In the weeks leading up to Tennessee’s football season, one of the biggest concerns was a youthful receiver group with only seven scholarship players.
That worry could always resurface, but the bigger issue now is how long can the No. 15 Volunteers go with redshirt junior Chris Brazzell II, sophomore Mike Matthews and redshirt freshman Braylon Staley shouldering the load? Those three combined for all 11 of the catches that Joey Aguilar threw to receivers in the opening 45-26 defeat of Syracuse, and they combined for all 18 during the first half of last Saturday’s 72-17 shellacking of East Tennessee State.
“We’re all good,” Brazzell said after Saturday’s triumph when asked how he was holding up. “On top of that, we get to stay in a rhythm with the quarterback instead of us going in and coming out. I personally like staying in the game so I can get comfortable in the game.”
The Vols continued preparations Tuesday for this Saturday afternoon’s showdown (3:30 on ABC) against No. 6 Georgia.
Brazzell, Matthews and Staley are each in their second year at Tennessee, with Brazzell having transferred from Tulane following the 2023 season. They have taken over that position for the Vols now that Dont’e Thornton is a Las Vegas Raiders rookie, Bru McCoy is retired and Squirrel White is now playing at Florida State.