Braylon Staley Named SEC Freshman of the Year After Breakout Season for Tennessee
Tennessee’s got a star on its hands - and the rest of the SEC knows it now, too. Wide receiver Braylon Staley has been named the SEC Freshman of the Year, capping off a standout debut season that saw him emerge as one of the most reliable weapons in the Vols’ offense.
On Tuesday, as Tennessee prepped for its upcoming Music City Bowl matchup against Illinois, Staley met with the media and reflected on the honor. Interestingly, this particular award wasn’t even on his radar.
His personal goal? To earn All-SEC recognition - a nod he didn’t receive.
But in the end, he said it was something he prayed about, and the Freshman of the Year title came as a meaningful reward for the work he put in.
And make no mistake: the work showed up every Saturday.
Staley became just the second Tennessee player ever to win SEC Freshman of the Year, joining Peyton Manning in 1994 and Jamal Lewis in 1997. That’s elite company, and Staley earned his spot with a season that was as productive as it was consistent.
With Tennessee thin at slot receiver, Staley stepped into a high-volume role and never looked back. He played the lion’s share of snaps at the position, stayed healthy, and delivered week after week.
His final stat line? 64 catches, 806 yards, and six touchdowns - a resume that speaks for itself.
Those 806 yards weren’t just good - they were the sixth-most among all SEC wideouts this year. And he wasn’t doing it alone, either.
Tennessee had three receivers finish in the top ten in receiving yards across the conference. Chris Brazzell led the SEC with 1,017 yards, while Mike Matthews finished seventh with 770.
Staley’s six touchdown grabs tied for eighth in the league, with Brazzell again leading the way at nine.
Staley’s ability to produce in big moments also stood out. He topped 90 receiving yards in five different games this season, including a pair of 100-yard performances in SEC wins over Arkansas and Kentucky. His best scoring output came against Oklahoma, where he found the end zone twice and tallied 75 yards on five catches.
For a freshman, that’s not just a solid season - it’s a statement.
So, with all that success under his belt, does Staley see his role changing heading into next year?
“It don’t,” he said with a smile. “I just got to keep working hard in practice and come into the game with a mindset that I came in with this past season - to kill. That’s about it.”
That mindset - to attack every rep, every route, every snap - is what helped turn a young receiver into one of the SEC’s most dangerous weapons. And if year one was just the beginning, the rest of the conference better be ready. Braylon Staley isn’t just a freshman standout - he’s a rising star with his sights set even higher.