‘That will be part of the conversation here’ – The Tennessee Vols’ offense is still catching shade from ESPN
ESPN is still questioning the Tennessee Vols’ offense.
The Tennessee Vols still have some work to do to change the reputation around Josh Heupel’s offense.
Heupel’s offense has evolved over the last couple of seasons — specifically in 2025 by using more condensed formations — but it still often utilizes wide splits, choice routes, and tempo.
Despite the evolution we saw from Heupel’s offense last season, Tennessee is still catching shade from ESPN.
ESPN draft analyst questions Tennessee’s offense
While discussing Tennessee wide receiver Chris Brazzell ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, ESPN’s Field Yates questioned how the Vols’ offense prepares wide receivers for the next level.
“You just watch Tennessee tape, and he pops,” said Yates of Brazzell. “He can find ways to generate some separation at the top of his routes. It’s pretty much all on the perimeter. And Tennessee, to their success and credit during the college seasons — not as much during the pro development stage — has had a few of these guys come out as super long, fast, twitchy, athletic perimeter receivers that, at least to this point, haven’t really panned out that much at the NFL level.
“So I do think that will be part of the conversation (with Brazzell). A lot of the route tree at Tennessee is run far, run fast, run straight. Or run far, fast, straight, and then come back to the football. Guys like Cedric Tillman and Jalin Hyatt a few years ago. Remember, they were the talk of the town during that breakout year for Tennessee, and they have not become, at least to this point, super consistent contributors for their respective teams. I think Tillman more so for the Browns than Hyatt. But it’s a little bit of swimming upstream here for Chris Brazzell. I think day two, maybe round three, or late round two for me, with this incredibly gifted athlete.”
Fair or not, there’s only one thing at this point that’s going to change Tennessee’s reputation when it comes to wide receiver development — a former Vol is going to have to enjoy a huge breakout season in the NFL. If that happens, then the questions about Tennessee’s offense will start to disappear.
Maybe Brazzell will be that guy. He certainly has the the physical talent to be a star player at the next level. He just needs to hope that doesn’t land in a bad situation in the NFL (which is something that’s held Tillman and Hyatt back in their pro careers).
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