National media outlet ranks key Vols position group among college football's best
A national media outlet ranked a key Tennessee Vols position group among the nation's best this week. 247Sports ranked the top seven pass catching units in the nation and the Vols' starting trio of Squirrel White, Bru McCoy, and Ramel Keyton came in at No. 7. 247Sports also highlighted the addition of former Oregon Ducks […]
A national media outlet ranked a key Tennessee Vols position group among the nation's best this week.
247Sports ranked the top seven pass catching units in the nation and the Vols' starting trio of Squirrel White, Bru McCoy, and Ramel Keyton came in at No. 7. 247Sports also highlighted the addition of former Oregon Ducks wide receiver Dont'e Thornton.
From 247Sports: We're not talking about Keyton enough this summer. He should form quite the duo with McCoy, a former USC transfer who was Tennessee's second-leading receiver last fall with 52 catches for 667 yards and four scores. Much of the offseason narrative about Tennessee's arsenal in 2023 begins and ends with questions surrounding the void left by Biletnikoff winner Jalin Hyatt and multi-year starter Cedric Tillman. In the bowl game against Clemson, we already saw what the Volunteers' two-deep at the position would look like and Tennessee had no issues in the play-making department. Blink and you'll miss White — he's incredibly quick.
Oregon transfer Dont'e Thornton Jr. was a unique depth addition this cycle from the portal, but it's unlikely he'll unseat one of Tennessee's "Big 3" in the passing game. Still, how many teams nationally can say they added a playmaker who averaged 21.5 yards per catch last fall (17 receptions at Oregon) and won't need to be leaned on for mass production? Tales of Tennessee's step back offensively under Josh Heupel in 2023 are a bit overinflated. If quarterback Joe Milton is the real deal, this group of pass-catchers he has around him should be elite.
247Sports is spot on with their comment about Keyton — folks are sleeping way too much on the senior wide receiver.
Keyton has flown under the radar a bit — perhaps because of his quiet personality — but he was a key reason why the Vols won 11 games last season. When Cedric Tillman went down with an ankle injury early in the season, Keyton stepped up and helped Tennessee's offense continue its high level of production without missing a beat.
Without Keyton, who knows if the Vols are able to get a win against Florida last season. His memorable diving catch before halftime helped turn the momentum in Tennessee's favor.
By the end of the season, Tennessee's wide receivers might be ranked No. 1 on this list.
Featured image via Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
