‘After the game, I bawled my eyes out’ – Tennessee WR Braylon Staley makes admission that Vols fans need to hear
Tennessee Vols redshirt freshman Braylon Staley has been one of the best wide receivers in college football this season. The South Carolina native is No. 5 in the SEC in receiving yards (761), No. 3 in receptions (57), and tied for No. 3 in receiving touchdowns with six. It’s been such a remarkable season for […]
Tennessee Vols redshirt freshman Braylon Staley has been one of the best wide receivers in college football this season.
The South Carolina native is No. 5 in the SEC in receiving yards (761), No. 3 in receptions (57), and tied for No. 3 in receiving touchdowns with six.
It’s been such a remarkable season for Staley that many fans and media members have already forgotten about the toughest game of the young wide receiver’s career.
Braylon Staley said he ‘bawled his eyes out’ after Tennessee’s win against Mississippi State
Staley appeared on the Everything Orange podcast this week, and he was asked about his favorite moment so far from the 2025 season.
The former four-star recruit pointed out his third-down catch against Mississippi State that put the Vols in position to tie the game (Tennessee won in overtime).
“Personally, I think the third down catch versus Mississippi State,” said Staley. “Because it obviously started rough for me in the beginning of that game. But I think the receiving room, Chris (Brazzell) and Mike (Matthews), they stayed in my ear on the sideline the whole time. Coach (Kelsey) Pope, obviously, [too]. But I think just staying in the game and staying in the moment helped me a lot. And then when they called my name, I had to be ready to make something happen.
“After that game, I bawled my eyes out because it was my first road game as a starter. And I didn’t want it to go that way. But, you know, things happen. And so, I bawled my eyes out. But I had my guys around me to say, like, ‘You’re good, you made a big catch.’ So I love them boys for that.”
Staley hadn’t had a good game against Mississippi State when he made that play. He muffed a punt earlier in the game and had a few moments when he just didn’t execute. It happens. But he made one of the biggest plays of the game when it needed to be made.
It’s never going to be perfect when you’re competing. Every player will make mistakes — every wide receiver in the Hall of Fame, in fact, had drops, missed assignments, and bad plays. The players who learn to put the bad plays behind them, stay in the moment, and compete without worrying about the outcomes are the ones who will have the most success.
Staley’s performance against Mississippi State and the support he received from his teammates in the midst of a tough game are among the things I’ll remember most about Tennessee in 2025.
I’ll also remember Staley’s incredible touchdown reception against Oklahoma. I mean, what a move.
Staley’s only scratching the surface of how good he can be. It won’t surprise me at all if he challenges for the Biletnikoff Award in 2026.
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