‘He’s not exactly off to a sterling golden start’ – Insider questions if key WR will produce at a high level for Tennessee in 2025
One of the Tennessee Vols’ most important players is off to a slow start during fall camp. And that slow start, which is due to injury, has longtime Vols insider Tony Basilio concerned. Redshirt junior wide receiver Chris Brazzell, who is entering his second season at Tennessee after transferring from Tulane, has been limited to […]
One of the Tennessee Vols’ most important players is off to a slow start during fall camp.
And that slow start, which is due to injury, has longtime Vols insider Tony Basilio concerned.
Redshirt junior wide receiver Chris Brazzell, who is entering his second season at Tennessee after transferring from Tulane, has been limited to start fall camp.
Basilio said on his show on Thursday that he “wouldn’t count” on Brazzell having a big season in 2025.
“This Brazzell guy, who they got from Tulane last year, we heard behind-the-scenes [that he] doesn’t work at it,” said Basilio. “I mean, literally [he was] coasting. And he pretty much looked like that last year. No offense to him. And I don’t know the extent of his injury — they’re pretty tight-lipped with stuff like that. He could really be seriously hurt. Who knows. But he’s not exactly off to a sterling golden start…they’re going to have kids [playing] at wide receiver.
“I always thought about this Brazzell guy, I said it out loud in the offseason, when you tell me that’s one of your leading returning guys that you’re counting on, you need to get in the transfer portal and get a couple of wide receivers. That was always my take on him. And maybe I’m proven wrong and maybe he has a 60 catch year. But I wouldn’t count on it. If he’s a stock, I’m selling him. No offense to him.”
Brazzell, who is the Vols’ only returning starting wide receiver, caught 29 passes for 333 yards and two touchdowns last season.
Those numbers were far below what was expected from Brazzell last season, but the Texas native did manage to come down with arguably Tennessee’s biggest catch of the season — a game-winning touchdown reception against Alabama.
Brazzell has the talent to be a game-changer in the SEC. We’ll see if he can put it all together this fall, though he needs to get healthy first.
With Brazzell sidelined, some of Tennessee’s young wide receivers, including true freshman Travis Smith, are seeing increased reps in practice.
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