Tennessee Football Offseason Outlook: Wide Receiver Room Reloads After Brazzell’s Departure
The grind never really stops in Knoxville, and as Tennessee pushes through the winter phase of its offseason program, the wide receiver room is already under the microscope. After an 8-5 campaign in 2025 that didn’t quite meet expectations, the Vols are retooling for a pivotal 2026 season-one that brings the first nine-game SEC schedule into the fold. And with Josh Heupel’s offense always leaning heavily on explosive receiver play, it’s time to take a deep dive into what Tennessee has, what it lost, and who’s ready to step into the spotlight.
Who’s Gone: Brazzell Leaves Big Shoes to Fill
Tennessee bet on Jimmy Brazzell bouncing back in 2025, and that bet paid off in a big way. After a quiet 2024, the former Tulane transfer erupted as a redshirt junior, racking up 62 catches for 1,017 yards and nine touchdowns.
He earned All-SEC First Team honors and delivered one of the most memorable performances of the year with a 177-yard, three-touchdown showcase against Georgia. That kind of production doesn’t just walk out the door quietly-Brazzell’s graduation and move to the NFL leaves a major void.
Beyond Brazzell, the Vols said goodbye to a few depth pieces. Walk-ons Weary and Winton are heading to ETSU, and Harmon-who had a lone 41-yard grab against ETSU-is also dropping to the FCS level. Then there’s former Alabama transfer Jefferson, who never found his footing in Knoxville and played just two games before fading from the rotation.
Who’s Back: Staley and Matthews Lead a Talented Core
The good news? Tennessee held onto two of its biggest playmakers in sophomore sensations Mike Matthews and Braylon Staley. Both were hot names during the transfer portal window, but the Vols did what they had to do to keep them home-and it’s easy to see why.
Staley was electric out of the slot, earning SEC Freshman of the Year honors with 68 catches for 837 yards and six touchdowns. Matthews, the former five-star recruit, brought physicality and big-play potential to the outside, finishing with 53 receptions for 813 yards and four scores. Together with Brazzell, they formed the most productive trio of wideouts in the SEC last season.
Also returning are all three of Tennessee’s freshman receivers from 2025: Jackson, Smith, and Dodson. Injuries limited Jackson and Smith to a combined 12 catches and 119 yards, but both showed flashes when healthy. Dodson redshirted during the regular season but made his mark in the Music City Bowl with a kickoff return touchdown that briefly gave Tennessee the lead in the fourth quarter.
The Vols also added two new faces to the mix. The headline name is five-star freshman Jalen Keys, the top-ranked wide receiver in the 2026 class and the highest-rated wideout Tennessee has signed in the 247Sports Composite Era.
The other is Idaho State transfer Duarte, who brings three years of FCS experience and could be a real asset on special teams, particularly in the return game. Four-star signee Tyreek King is expected to join the group this summer.
Who Could Step Up: Searching for the New No. 3
With Brazzell gone, Tennessee is once again looking for that third receiver to complete the trio. The Vols struck gold in 2025 by trusting their young talent, and they’re sticking with that formula again.
Staley and Matthews are proven commodities, but they benefited from defenses having to account for all three top targets. Now, someone else has to rise to that level.
Jackson may have a slight edge going into spring. He closed out the season strong, catching a few passes in the bowl game and showing off his large catch radius and reliable hands.
At 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, he’s got the physical tools to be a matchup problem. He caught nine of his 11 targets in limited action and looked like a player ready to take the next step.
Smith, a fellow four-star, isn’t far behind. Injuries slowed him down, but the talent is there. And don’t count out Dodson, who might have the most momentum after that bowl game return touchdown.
Still, the wildcard here is Keys. Tennessee flipped him from LSU and didn’t do that just to stash him on the bench.
He’s a freaky athlete-his junior year numbers (58 catches, 1,275 yards, 14 TDs) jump off the page-and he’s got a track background to match. High jump, long jump, hurdles, basketball-you name it, Keys has done it.
The Vols haven’t had a true freshman or transfer wideout break out in Year 1 under Heupel, but Keys has the kind of upside that could buck the trend.
Pressing Question: Can Keys Break the Sophomore Surge Mold?
In the Heupel era, Tennessee receivers tend to make their leap in Year 2. Jalin Hyatt won the Biletnikoff in his second full season.
Dont’e Thornton Jr. turned heads in 2024. Brazzell, Matthews, and Staley all exploded in their second seasons.
It’s become a pattern.
But Keys is aiming to break that mold.
He’s not just the highest-rated receiver Tennessee has signed-he’s the 13th overall player in the 2026 class. His senior year was cut short by injury, but his junior film and athletic profile speak volumes. He’s not coming in to sit and learn-he’s coming to compete, and if he can pick up the offense quickly, he might just force the issue.
The Vols made some subtle tweaks to their offensive approach in 2025, and that could help ease the transition for a true freshman. If there’s any first-year wideout who can jump the line and make an immediate impact, it’s Keys.
Final Thoughts
Tennessee’s wide receiver room isn’t starting from scratch-it’s reloading. With Matthews and Staley leading the way and a group of hungry young talent behind them, the Vols are banking on internal development rather than transfer portal splashes. That strategy paid off last year, and the pieces are in place for it to work again.
The question now is who fills the Brazzell-sized hole in the offense. Whether it’s Jackson, Smith, Dodson, or the ultra-talented Keys, someone will need to emerge.
Because in Heupel’s system, having just two reliable targets isn’t enough. The Vols need three, and the race to be that third guy is already underway.