Comments from Vols WR signee should ease concerns about Tennessee WRs coach Kelsey Pope
Over the last few weeks, there's been some concern from Tennessee Vols fans about wide receivers coach Kelsey Pope (among other offensive related concerns with the program). Most of that concern stems from the fact that Tennessee hasn't had a 1,000 yard receiver since Jalin Hyatt left Rocky Top after the 2022 season. In 2024, […]
Over the last few weeks, there's been some concern from Tennessee Vols fans about wide receivers coach Kelsey Pope (among other offensive related concerns with the program).
Most of that concern stems from the fact that Tennessee hasn't had a 1,000 yard receiver since Jalin Hyatt left Rocky Top after the 2022 season.
In 2024, Dont'e Thornton led the Vols in receiving with 661 yards.
Pope, however, almost certainly isn't going anywhere. He's recruited extremely well since taking over as Tennessee's wide receivers coach in early 2022. And those players that he's recruited are set to play a major role in the Vols' offense in 2024 (Mike Matthews and Braylon Staley, two 2024 signees, are expected to be starters in in 2025). It would be unwise to move on from a coach that's helped bring a significant amount of talent to Tennessee just as that talent is set to make an impact.
Comments from Vols WR signee should ease concerns about Tennessee WRs coach Kelsey Pope
If fans are still feeling uneasy about Pope, some comments from Vols 2025 wide receiver signee Travis Smith might help ease those concerns.
Smith joined Najeh Wilkins recently for an interview that was livestreamed on YouTube and he had plenty of positive things to say about Pope.
"It was really the coaches, you know, Coach Pope, he had a great recruiting regimen," said Smith when asked what drew him to Tennessee. "Just contacting me on a daily basis. I'm not just talking once a week or twice a week, [it was] really on a daily basis. Just checking in on me, seeing how I was doing. And giving me tips on how to become a better person — not only just on the field, but off the field. Mentally, he really tapped in with me. Once I [saw] that, and then talked with others around him, he never changes. And that's the same thing about all of their coaching staff, they don't change."
"Coach Pope, he's a cool dude," added Smith. "I love Coach Pope. He's real cool. So I'm excited to get with him and work with him."
That doesn't sound like the type of coach that Vols fans should want to move on from.
Tennessee's loss to Ohio State in the first round of the College Football Playoff showed how important it is to sign elite wide receiver talent out of high school. And Pope has done a great job of that over the last couple of recruiting cycles (Matthews was rated as the No. 6 wide receiver in the 2024 class, Staley was the No. 15 wide receiver in the 2024 class, and Smith was the No. 12 wide receiver in the 2025 class).
It would be silly to dismiss an assistant coach like Pope who is currently recruiting at a very high level.
