Tennessee football 2017 breakdown: Receivers offer more than Jauan Jennings' big catches
This is the sixth in a series evaluating how Tennessee stands at each position for the 2017 football season.
Jauan Jennings might have more catches this season, but he will be hard-pressed to have bigger ones than he did in 2016.
Jennings, who had 40 pass receptions, sparked Tennessee's comeback victory against Florida with a 67-yard touchdown catch. A week later, he stunned the crowd at Sanford Stadium when he rose above Georgia defenders to haul in a 43-yard Hail Mary from quarterback Joshua Dobbs.
The two plays reflected Jennings’ leaping ability and speed. But his athleticism also was evident at Blackman High School in Murfreesboro, where 247Sports ranked him as the No. 7 dual-threat quarterback in the 2015 recruiting class.
How Jennings became a receiver
Jennings demonstrated his versatility before he played his first game for the Vols. He moved to wide receiver in preseason camp and ended up starting six games as a freshman.
Jennings is now standing out in other ways, according to UT coach Butch Jones.
“He has learned the game," Jones said. "He was allergic to the weight room. Now, he loves the weight room. He sees the results of it.”
► More:5 Vols juniors to watch in 2017
Jennings heads up what could be a potent receiving corps, which will count on sophomore wide receivers Tyler Byrd, Marquez Callaway and Brandon Johnson playing more prominent roles.
Callaway averaged 57 yards on two punt returns but caught only one pass last season. Byrd had 15 catches and rushed eight times for 63 yards. Johnson had five of his seven catches against Tennessee Tech.
Byrd, who also excelled at cornerback in high school, admittedly felt more comfortable in the spring.
“Last year, I didn’t get spring and jumped into fall and had to run with it,” he said this past spring. “Now, I get a chance to slow things down and really try to work on my craft.”
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Senior Josh Smith will add more experience to the receiving corps. He has 58 career catches and 18 career starts. His early season status is in doubt because of a sprained shoulder.
When Smith was limited in practice, that enabled freshman Josh Palmer to get more action.
“He has a skill set, a lot of natural ability and he works very hard,” Jones said of Palmer.
The vet
Ethan Wolf, Tennessee’s 6-foot-6 senior tight end, should have been as happy as anyone when tight ends coach Larry Scott was promoted to offensive coordinator after last season. The likelihood of tight ends being more involved in the passing game could set up Wolf for his best season.
Wolf already has started for three seasons, resulting in 67 career catches, just one shy of Jason Witten’s school record for tight ends.
The future
Long before LaTrell Bumphus became a four-star recruit at Hardin County High School, he already was a Tennessee fan. Recruiting interest from other schools, including Auburn and Alabama, didn’t change that.
Bumphus was an immediate hit as a tight end in preseason training camp. He and safety Theo Jackson were the first two freshmen to have their black helmet stripes removed by their veteran teammates in training camp.
MORE BREAKING DOWN THE VOLS
► Defensive line has potential, needs results
► Linebackers face immediate challenge vs. Georgia Tech
► Secondary: Vols could have big hit in Nigel Warrior
► Special teams: Vols have stars in Berry, Daniel
► Offensive line: Experience plus Drew Richmond, Trey Smith
Quote
Jones on Jennings: “He’s as competitive as anyone on our football team. I wouldn’t trade him for anybody.”
John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com. Follow him at: Twitter.com/johnadamskns.