Tennessee landed four names on the preseason All-SEC list Friday, but the biggest reaction from Vols fans centered on the player who didn’t get called.
Running back DeSean Bishop, offensive lineman David Sanders Jr., offensive lineman Wendell Moe, and linebacker Arion Carter all earned third-team preseason All-SEC honors from the media at the end of SEC Media Days in Tampa, FL. Still, the omission that stood out to Tennessee fans was redshirt sophomore wide receiver Braylon Staley.
That response showed up fast in a Rocky Top Insider poll released after the list came out. Fans were asked to choose the Vol they believed was the biggest snub, with Staley, CB Ty Redmond, LB Amare Campbell, and “other” among the options. Staley took the vote in a landslide, finishing at 89.8%.
It’s not hard to see why he drew that kind of attention. Staley broke out last fall and was named SEC Freshman of the Year after putting together a strong season for Tennessee. In the Vols’ 2025 campaign, he finished with 68 catches for 837 yards and six touchdowns, ranking eighth in the SEC in receiving yards and tied for fourth in touchdown grabs.
The numbers stack up well against the wideouts who did make the preseason team. The list included Texas’ Cam Coleman, Alabama’s Ryan Coleman-Williams, Texas A&M’s Mario Craver, Oklahoma’s Isaiah Sategna, Texas’ Ryan Wingo, and South Carolina’s Nyck Harbor. Staley’s 68 receptions topped several of them, and his 837 yards were right in the mix with the group.
His path to that production was a big jump from 2024, when he appeared in only four games as a true freshman. In 2025, he locked down a starting role in the slot and started all 13 games for the Vols. He was also named a semifinalist for the National Freshman of the Year award.
Staley had several standout performances along the way, including games against Arkansas, Kentucky, Georgia, Syracuse, and Alabama. He posted 109 yards against Arkansas, 105 against Kentucky, 97 against Georgia, 95 against Syracuse, and 92 against Alabama. From Oct. 11 to Nov. 1, he put together a four-week stretch of 381 yards and three touchdowns on 27 catches, all in SEC play.
Looking ahead to 2026, Staley returns as part of Tennessee’s starting lineup alongside Mike Matthews. The third starting receiver spot is still up for grabs after Chris Brazzell’s departure, with Radarious Jackson, Travis Smith, and true freshman TK Keys all candidates to fill it. Fall camp next month should start sorting that out.
Head coach Josh Heupel also discussed Staley’s game during a Film Room session with Voice of the Vols Mike Keither earlier in the offseason.
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The timing is notable, too, because Tennessee did not exactly overwhelm opponents in Knoxville last season and now faces a brutal home slate in SEC play. Texas, Alabama, LSU, Auburn and Kentucky are all set to come through Neyland next fall, giving the Vols a chance to prove the stadiums reputation still matches what happens on the field, even if the leagues preseason forecast has them sitting eighth. [Read more 🡒]