Tennessee Vols assistant inadvertently throws shade at former UT coaching staff
Tennessee Vols wide receivers coach Kodi Burns was just being honest on Tuesday during a media session with reporters. He wasn't trying to throw shade at the previous UT coaching staff. But that's exactly what happened…albeit inadvertently. Burns was talking to reporters about the development of redshirt junior wide receiver Cedric Tillman when he unintentionally […]
Tennessee Vols wide receivers coach Kodi Burns was just being honest on Tuesday during a media session with reporters.
He wasn't trying to throw shade at the previous UT coaching staff.
But that's exactly what happened…albeit inadvertently.
Burns was talking to reporters about the development of redshirt junior wide receiver Cedric Tillman when he unintentionally slighted the previous Vols staff.
"I've had one or two players that have had some progress like that (Tillman's progress) really after one year," said Burns on Tuesday while talking about Tillman. "You just talk to the development of Tillman, a guy that has been here for three years. He just lacked confidence and had the skill set but just needed to be developed."
"I truly believe he is one of the better receivers in the SEC. He is going to continue to progress and is going to be a really good player when it is all said and done."
"I think Cedric Tillman is just really scratching the surface, just still truly an inexperienced player," added Burns. "He had eight catches in three years, was kind of overlooked, overshadowed a little bit by some other guys. He didn't have the opportunity that he has now, and he has really taken full advantage of it and it has been impressive to see him go out there each week and continue to develop and get more confidence each and every week."
Tillman is in his fourth year at Tennessee.
Fourth-year players typically aren't described as "inexperienced" and "under-developed". It's clear from Burns' comments, and Tillman's increased production this season, that player development was severely lacking with the previous coaching staff at Tennessee.
Tillman has gone from an afterthought in the Vols' offense a year ago to one of the better wide receivers in the SEC.
Entering this season, Tillman had eight receptions for 124 yards.
In eight games this season, Tillman has 36 receptions for 525 yards and five touchdowns. His 36 receptions are tied for first on the team with Velus Jones Jr. And his 525 receiving yards are second on the team (Jones is first with 553 receiving yards).
Last season, in 10 games, the Vols didn't have a wide receiver total more than 500 receiving yards (Josh Palmer led the team with 475 receiving yards). They already have two this season. And JaVonta Payton, who leads the team with six receiving touchdowns, could also pass that threshold by the end of the season (Payton currently has 366 receiving yards).
Player development is going to be key for this staff until recruiting picks up. The Vols currently have the No. 32 recruiting class (2022) in the nation. That talent level isn't going to win the SEC East. That means Tennessee is going to need the players they sign to outperform their recruiting ranking.
Fortunately for the Vols, it appears this coaching staff knows how to develop players at a high level.
Featured image via Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports
