Freshman receiver Marquez Callaway looks on during Tennessee’s practice at Haslam Field on Aug. 1, 2016.
Freshman wide receiver Brandon Johnson runs a route during Tennessee’s practice at Haslam Field on Aug. 1, 2016.KNOXVILLE — More than half of the scholarship wide receivers running around Tennessee’s practices at Haslam Field this week still bear the black helmet stripe denoting their first-year status.
It’s not the only way those newcomers have stood out, though.
The positive start for those first-year wideouts is a good sign for the Volunteers, who will need at least two or three of them to solidify the position’s rotation.
“I’m excited about that group,” Tennessee coach Butch Jones said Thursday. “Now, they have a long way to go. They’re still learning what it takes to perform at a high level day in and day out, but I’ve been exceptionally pleased.
“Tyler Byrd has done a remarkable job. He’s still learning the fine details, but he competes every single day. Brandon Johnson has really done a great job. But they’re still puppies. They’re youngsters. Marquez Callaway is doing a good job as well. I think the entire freshman class is doing a good job.”
Johnson, Byrd and Jeff George, a junior college transfer who was on campus for spring practice, each made touchdown catches in one-on-one reps on Tuesday.
Byrd is working behind Josh Smith in the slot, while Johnson, George and Callaway are working at the outside receiver positions.
A fourth freshman, Latrell Williams, has been slowed this week by a hamstring problem.
“With (Byrd), Brandon, Marquez and Latrell when he gets out there, they’re going to have their good days, they’re going to have their rough days and that just comes (with being a freshman),” quarterback Josh Dobbs said. “We’ve all been there. I’m definitely excited to see their progress thus far over the past three days and how they continue to improve.”
At one point after he flipped from Miami to sign with Tennessee, Byrd appeared set to play defense as a freshman for the Vols, but he’s been playing offense since he stepped on campus.
He brings a clear shiftiness and quickness to a position that requires those attributes.
“Coach (Mike) DeBord, Coach (Larry) Scott and myself all have head coaching experience, so I think we all see big-picture thinking and understand it’s what’s best for the team,” defensive coordinator Bob Shoop said on Wednesday.
“The slot receiver, Coach (Jones) felt that was best for the team, and Tyler’s certainly a dynamic athlete who can excel on either side of the ball and on special teams. We certainly think he could be a tremendous safety and a tremendous addition to the secondary, it’s whatever’s best for the team.”
Callaway looks to be more polished than a typical raw freshman receiver, and George, at 6-foot-6, is a promising red-zone jump-ball target if he can get stronger and be physical enough.
The steal of the group might be Johnson, an under-the-radar three-star recruit who’s the son of a former Major League catcher and the nephew of former NFL receiver Chad Johnson.
Brandon’s mitt-like hands have caught seemingly every pass thrown his way this week.
What’s impressed teammates and coaches about the newcomers goes beyond their physical talent.
“A testament to them was their mindset when they stepped on campus,” Dobbs said. “They were hungry to learn, hungry to throw. There would be a couple of throwing sessions where I’d be throwing with just Josh Malone or someone, and they would run out there because they wanted to throw and get in the mix.
“They were hungry to learn right when they got on campus to be ready so when they got to fall camp they were hitting it in stride.
“They love football and they want to make an impact now,” Dobbs added. “That’s exactly what we need from them. They’re going to have to step up and make some plays this year for us.”
Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com.