KNOXVILLE - Marquez Callaway is one of the many relatively unknown players in Tennessee's football program.
As a freshman last season the wide receiver played in just five games, and his production consisted of a 13-yard reception and two punt returns totaling 114 yards, including a 62-yard touchdown, in the blowout of Tennessee Tech.
"It was different not coming and playing, but that's part of the process," Callaway said Thursday afternoon after the Volunteers completed their second spring practice.
"I learned a lot, and I'm thankful for that come this year to try to show what I can do."
Now the opportunity for Callaway and Tennessee's other second-year receivers is plentiful with Josh Malone preparing for the NFL draft.
Whoever wins Tennessee's starting quarterback job will need reliable targets in the passing game, but beyond Jauan Jennings, who caught 40 passes for 580 yards and seven touchdowns in 2016, the Vols' receiving corps is unproven with the other returners having combined for just 37 receptions, 432 yards and one score last season.
The Vols hope new wide receivers coach Kevin Beard will be able to tap into the potential of players such as Callaway, Tyler Byrd, Latrell Williams and Brandon Johnson, who's sidelined this spring after offseason surgery.
Beard replaced Zach Azzanni when he left for an NFL job.
"When you have guys that have had another coach like Coach Z, you know that they have a good tool belt already," Beard said earlier this month. "I use this term a lot, just building your tool belt. The fact that he has given them tools, now I can add on to those tools.
"If you could visually see a tool guy, a handyman with his tool belt, how big is that tool belt for that guy that's really good at his job? That's what we're trying to do. We're trying to build a tool belt and give them all kinds of resources so that when they get on the field, they feel really confident and unstoppable."
Tennessee's young wideouts clearly have tools, but they need sharpening.
Byrd, ranked by ESPN as the top athlete prospect in the 2016 class, averaged nearly 12 yards on his 23 rushes and receptions during his freshman season, and Tennessee would be foolish not to make a concentrated effort to use his playmaking talent.
The son of a former major league All-Star catcher and nephew of former NFL receiver Chad Ochocinco, Johnson has genetics on his side, and he made a key catch late in regulation in Tennessee's rally at Texas A&M and hauled in a sliding 22-yard catch against Missouri.
Williams battled hamstring problems all last season, but now that he's healthy his speed is noticeable.
The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Callaway, a four-star recruit out of Warner Robins, Ga., is a lanky target with long arms and impressive leaping ability.
"I'm more comfortable, so that's more fun," he said. "Looking up at Malone and Jauan, all the older guys, they all set a high standard. Looking up for them last year when I was just under their footsteps, they kind of carried me up and carried all the younger (receivers) - me, Latrell, Tyler and Brandon."
There's a sense of buzz around Callaway. Tennessee used his positive personality to host visiting recruits in January. Callaway's personality came out during his interview Thursday when he joked about Beard wearing cleats in practice but not demonstrating how to do drills as well as he did "back in the day" while playing at Miami.
His enthusiasm also was evident when he talked about his touchdown last season and efforts to earn the punt-return job this offseason.
"When I first did it, in the moment I thought I could be the one," Callaway said. "But then again, the day we came back for practice we had to restart. Cam Sutton and Alvin (Kamara), I always asked them questions and always bugged them about tips and stuff, and hopefully I can take those tips, not only for me, but I can help out with some of the other players, too."
Callaway is staying in touch with Malone to seek help from the receiver who recorded 972 receiving yards with 11 touchdown catches in 2016.
He wants to emulate his mentor, albeit with his own unique flair.
"I would try not to compare myself (to anyone)," Callaway said, "because I'm trying to make a name for myself."
Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com.