KNOXVILLE – On the first play of its second offensive series against Virginia Tech last week, Tennessee called for a swing pass to wide receiver Tyler Byrd.
The freshman could see more passes thrown his way this week.
With starting slot receiver Josh Smith doubtful to play against Ohio on Saturday, Byrd is in line for an increased role for the Volunteers.
“He’s getting better every week,” wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni said. “He’s a young man that hasn’t played a ton of receiver, being a both-way guy in high school. He’s doing well. We’re expecting a lot more for him. Every week he’s getting more on his plate, more on his plate, more on his plate.
“He’s going to continue to get more reps and more touches. He’s a guy we’ve got to find out how to get on the field more, and we’re force-feeding him right now. I’m pleased with him.”
Tennessee continues to struggle to keep its wide receivers healthy, a major problem the past two years. Preston Williams was limited by a hamstring injury against the Hokies, and Smith “tweaked his ankle,” coach Butch Jones said, while catching a punt early in Tuesday’s practice.
Williams, Smith and Jauan Jennings – the latter is five months removed from knee surgery – have been in green noncontact jerseys in practice since the season-opening win against Appalachian State. Jones said Smith would try to practice Wednesday, so there’s still a chance he could play.
With two of their four non-newcomers potentially out or limited, Tennessee may have to turn to its crop of first-year receivers like Byrd, Marquez Callaway, Brandon Johnson and Jeff George.
“I’m living right, I promise you, I am,” Azzanni said with a laugh. “I’m a good family man. I live right. That was just bad luck right there. We’ll have guys step up, Tyler Byrd and those young guys, they’ll step up. We’re thin. We’re not real deep at all. I’ve said this before: The guys that we do have, I feel real good about. I’ve just got to take care of them.”
Byrd was the only newcomer who played in the season opener, while the rest got in the game late last week.
“We liked a lot of the things,” Jones said, “that he did in the Virginia Tech game.”
Like any freshman, Byrd is going through a learning process. His involves mastering the details of playing receiver- “things you don’t really need to worry about in high school,” Azzanni said – and developing the instincts required to play the position. There are few questions about his natural physical talent.
Byrd is hard on himself and a perfectionist, Azzanni said.
“Like all young players he continues to get better (by) getting more reps,” offensive coordinator Mike DeBord said. “He’s exciting at practice, too, but he’ll make mistakes. All young players do. He learns from that and just continues to get better.
“That’s all part of the process,” he added. ” You know that they’re maturing when they do that. Now if a guy that does great things in practice and then doesn’t take them to the game, you wonder if they are, but he’s a guy that continues to do that.”
Jones and Azzanni both raved about a catch Byrd made last week that didn’t count.
On a third down in the second quarter, quarterback Josh Dobbs was flushed out of the pocket and lofted a pass to the back of the end zone, where the 6-foot Byrd outjumped 6-foot-2 Anthony Shegog and came down with the ball out of bounds.
“I think that was the best catch of the weekend that no one saw in college football,” Azzanni said. “That would have been like an ESPN top-10 deal. He’s a phenomenal athlete. Too bad that one didn’t count.”
In Smith’s likely absence Saturday, the Vols will be counting on Byrd.
Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com.