A Florida Gators legend just took a cheap shot at Tennessee, and it backfired badly
A Florida Gators legend took a shot at the Tennessee Vols and ended up looking foolish as a result.
Florida Gators legend Chris Doering, who serves as an analyst for the SEC Network, took a shot at the Tennessee Vols this week that instantly backfired.
While discussing the outlook for the Vols this season on SEC Network on Thursday, Doering casually said that Tennessee’s wide receivers haven’t been very good in recent seasons.
“I feel like I know nothing more about Tennessee than I did when I walked in the door here (at SEC Media Days),” said Doering. “Tennessee, maybe they’re playing coy or something, but we don’t know who their quarterback is going to be. The receivers have been underwhelming the last few years.
“We know their offensive line is going to be good. DeSean Bishop’s going to be good. I love Jim Knowles. The hire there as the defensive coordinator was the number one hire of the offseason for a coordinator situation. But I don’t know. I think we’re talking about a team that could slide further back from that playoff appearance two years ago.”
Most of his analysis was fine — though I’m not sure why he’s griping about not knowing who the Vols’ starting quarterback is going to be (Josh Heupel was never going to reveal that this week because it won’t be decided until late in fall camp).
But the comment about the wide receivers is just wildly inaccurate.
Tennessee’s wide receivers weren’t just good last season, they were elite.
Chris Brazzell had 1,017 receiving yards, Mike Matthews had 813, and Braylon Staley had 837.
Tennessee was the only team in the nation last season with three receivers to go over 800 yards.
And despite losing Brazzell to the NFL, the Vols are expected to once again have one of the best pass catching groups in the nation this fall (No. 4 pass catching unit in college football according to CBS Sports).
Maybe Doering didn’t watch Tennessee play last season, or maybe he’s just a Vols hater (he’s a Gator, so it’s understandable if that’s the case).
Either way, it was one of the worst takes of the week at SEC Media Days.
By the way, here’s a pic of Doering in a Tennessee shirt after losing a bet in 2024.