There can’t be too many assistant coaches in Southeastern Conference football having a better season than Kodi Burns, who oversees receivers for the surging Tennessee Volunteers.
Sixth-year senior Velus Jones Jr., fifth-year senior JaVonta Payton and redshirt junior Cedric Tillman provided Burns with three veterans who in some ways resembled the Island of Misfit Toys. Jones was known more for his return skills after his four seasons at Southern California and his first year in Knoxville, while Payton faded as last season transpired in Mike Leach’s “Air Raid” offense at Mississippi State.
Then there was Tillman, who had just eight catches the past three seasons with the Vols, but that trio is where Burns has placed his trust as the Vols (4-2, 2-1 SEC) begin the second half of their regular season Saturday by hosting No. 13 Ole Miss (4-1, 1-1).
“When you get in the SEC, you want to go with experience,” Burns said Tuesday in a news conference, “and I think that’s paid off.”
Has it ever.