As college football continues to shift-thanks to the expanded College Football Playoff and the growing trend of NFL Draft opt-outs-bowl season has become less about legacy matchups and more about looking ahead. For Tennessee, that forward-looking lens is coming into focus this week, especially with several key players stepping away from the Music City Bowl to prepare for the next level.
The Volunteers will be without Chris Brazzell, Jermod McCoy, Colton Hood, Joshua Josephs, and Arion Carter, all of whom have chosen to begin their NFL Draft prep. That’s a significant hit, particularly on the offensive side of the ball, where Brazzell had emerged as a go-to target in Tennessee’s rejuvenated downfield passing game.
But bowl games today aren’t just about who’s not playing-they’re about who’s next. And for Tennessee, that spotlight now shifts to Radarious Jackson.
The redshirt freshman wideout is expected to step into Brazzell’s role against Illinois, and while he doesn’t have the résumé yet, the tools are there. Jackson, a 6-foot-2, 210-pound receiver from Memphis, was a 4-star recruit in the 2025 class and ranked inside the top 300 nationally. He’s only logged seven catches for 72 yards this season, but that’s more a reflection of Tennessee’s depth at the position than his potential.
Head coach Josh Heupel is confident in what Jackson-and fellow young receiver Travis Smith-can bring to the table.
“Radarious and Travis Smith, both of those guys are going to get action,” Heupel said after a recent bowl practice in Nashville. “We expect them to play at a really high level.
We trusted them coming into the season based on what they did in spring ball. Their maturity, their summer prep-it showed.
They both dealt with some injuries, but they finished strong. We expect them to step up.”
Of the two, Jackson appears to be a bit further along in his development. Heupel praised his maturity and work ethic, noting that Jackson adapted to the offense quickly and showed a willingness to put in the extra work. That kind of buy-in, especially from a young player, tends to pay off when the lights come on.
“He’s got the athletic traits,” Heupel said. “He can make plays with the ball in his hands-perimeter screens, explosive plays.
He’s fluid, he’s long, and he’s got a big catch radius. He can go get the football and play big.
Joey [Aguilar] has a lot of trust in him.”
That trust will matter. Aguilar and Brazzell built a strong connection this season, one that helped re-establish Tennessee’s vertical passing game. Now, it’s Jackson’s turn to try and keep that momentum going-and maybe carve out a bigger role heading into 2026.
Looking ahead, Tennessee’s receiver room has the makings of a high-ceiling, youth-driven group. Assuming no surprises in the transfer portal, the Vols are expected to return Mike Matthews and Braylon Staley next season.
Jackson and Smith will be firmly in the mix for a starting job, but they’ll have competition. Five-star signee Tristen Keys is on his way to Knoxville, and 4-star local standout Tyreek King is another name to watch.
It’s a young group, no doubt. But there’s talent-plenty of it.
And the Music City Bowl offers a low-risk, high-reward opportunity for Tennessee to get a live look at what the future might hold. For Heupel and wide receivers coach Kelsey Pope, it’s a chance to accelerate the development process and maybe get a sneak peek at what the 2026 offense could look like.
For fans, it’s a reason to stay tuned. Because while this bowl game might not have the same buzz as a playoff matchup, it could be the first chapter in the next evolution of Tennessee’s passing attack.