Tennessee knows who will throw the football when the season opens against Furman.
Who lines up as the Volunteers’ third wide receiver remains considerably less certain.
Mike Matthews and Braylon Staley have established themselves atop a receiving corps that could be one of Tennessee’s deepest under Josh Heupel. Behind them, Radarious Jackson and freshman Tristen Keys have emerged as two of the most intriguing options in a competition that has tightened throughout the offseason.
Wide receivers coach Kelsey Pope made clear earlier this month that nobody had claimed the job.
“Still searching,” Pope said. “We have to get consistent right now, so it’s literally a search.”
That consistency could ultimately separate Jackson and Keys.
Jackson entered the offseason with an advantage in experience. He has spent a year in Tennessee’s system and brings the physicality Pope wants from the position.
Pope also described Jackson as one of the hardest workers in his room.
“Radarious has always got the right mentality, man,” Pope said. “He’s usually the hardest worker in the receiver room.”
Pope’s evaluation goes beyond practice highlights.
He wants to know which receivers can execute when Tennessee reaches third down, two-minute situations and other high-pressure moments. Talent matters, but earning his trust requires being dependable when the margin for error shrinks.
Keys has complicated that decision.
The five-star freshman arrived with considerable expectations and quickly displayed the natural ability that made him one of the nation’s top prospects.
“The kid is gifted,” Pope said. “We knew that coming into it, and we knew that when we evaluated him.”
Pope said Keys can make plays coaches cannot teach. His route running, body control and catch radius have repeatedly stood out.
There have also been freshman moments.
Pope said Keys can occasionally look sped up while processing the offense, particularly with his eyes and understanding progressions. That inconsistency remains part of his development.
The response to those mistakes, however, has impressed Tennessee.
Keys has consistently shown a willingness to compete and work through the details required to become more than a talented young receiver.
His growing connection with starting quarterback Faizon Brandon adds another element to the competition.
Brandon remained in Knoxville during Tennessee’s break to continue working. Keys did the same, allowing the two freshmen to accumulate additional reps before Brandon eventually won the quarterback competition.
That chemistry could become increasingly important as Tennessee prepares to start a true freshman quarterback.
Matthews and Staley give Brandon two established options.
Matthews finished last season with more than 800 receiving yards and gives Tennessee a physical threat on the outside. Staley, the reigning SEC Freshman of the Year, has developed into one of the offense’s most dangerous weapons because of his speed, route running and ability to create yards after the catch.
The competition behind them illustrates why Tennessee believes the room can be considerably deeper.
Joakim Dodson gives the Vols additional speed and open-field ability. Pope said Dodson has emphasized becoming more consistent and improving his value in the run game after his kick-return touchdown in the Music City Bowl provided momentum entering the offseason.
Travis Smith Jr. gives Tennessee another imposing option.
Pope said Smith’s physical stature immediately catches the attention of visitors at practice.
“He looks like Goliath,” Pope said.
The challenge has been turning those physical tools into consistent production. Pope wants Smith to become the most physical receiver in the room and said he has started to make progress in that area.
That leaves Tennessee with several receivers capable of earning snaps, even if only one ultimately earns the WR3 designation.
For Pope, the standard has not changed.
“If we only have one guy that can play, we’re playing freaking 13 personnel,” Pope said. “We have two? We’ll go 12. If we got three, we’ll play an 11, but it has to be earned.”
Matthews and Staley have already established themselves.
The race behind them may not be settled until Tennessee takes the field.
And what once looked like Jackson’s opportunity to seize has become increasingly difficult to predict as Keys continues to push.
For a Tennessee offense preparing to break in an 18-year-old quarterback, having too many playable receivers is not a bad problem to solve.
