With Tennessee’s receiver room the thinner than every before under Josh Heupel, the Vols are going to have to rely on some true freshmen in some shape or form.
While returners make up the projected starters, you don’t have to farher than the two-deep on the depth chart to start seeing some first-year guys.
The highest-rated of the group is Travis Smith Jr. The former four-star out of Atlanta is now on campus as he gears up for year one in college.
Now, Smith is adjusting to the physical and mental aspects of college football. Bigger opponents, elite skills across the field and a new playbook can be tough to get used to.
So far, Smith is handling the adjustment well.
“It’s been smooth,” Smith said. “Just around the same. Being from 7A Georgia football, it’s all hands on deck. Every play, just getting flashbacks from high school. It’s been pretty smooth so far.”
One of the biggest things he’s had to get used to is where he’s lining up.
In high school, Smith played in a more traditional offense. This meant he typically lined up on or just inside of the numbers painted on the field.
With the Vols, Smith is pushed out to the sideline.
“It’s not necessarily the hardest thing, but of course having those wide splits,” Smith said. “You’re so used to being near the numbers. Just having to be outside of the numbers, when you’re at the sideline, it’s a bit of an adjustment for that.”
With depth chart spots for the taking, there is a bit of an urgency for Smith to make these adjustments quickly. He says he sees the opportunity, but the focus is just on the spring right now.
Tennessee offensive coordinator Joey Halzle understands the challenge of getting a freshman receiver ready to play. Smith and fellow outside receiver Radarious Jackson are going to get their chances.
The question is if they’re able to make the most of it.
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“No matter what a true freshman looks like going through spring and fall camp, you don’t really know what you have until you get under the lights in front of a hundred thousand people and now what’s somebody gonna act like?,” Halzle said. “Both those guys are mature beyond their years that are here right now. They’re playing really well. They have the physical traits that hold up where they don’t feel like they’re gonna get broken when they step out on the field. So now it’s our job to make sure that the learning process isn’t what keeps them off the field and then they have to go show that against the league competition, that they can go make plays.”
Smith’s quarterback, Nico Iamaleava, likes what he sees so far, though.
The physical makeup complements a young fiery receiver who isn’t afraid to talk a little trash. While it’s still early, Iamaleava seems confident Smith is going to be capable of making an early impact.
“Travis Smith, man, that’s a big dude right there, man,” Iamaleava said. “And he can run for sure. You seen him out there today, make a couple plays. He’s a young guy and you know when his number gets called, I think you’ll be ready for sure.”
Smith also likes his quarterback in Iamaleava. He noted that the Californian is a ‘chill guy’ who has helped him adjust to the offense and learn the new concepts.
If Smiith is able to pan out and reach his potential with Iamaleava, he has a specific vision in mind for the type of player he can be.
He’s modeled his game after NFL legend Julio Jones who played in Atlanta with the Falcons where Smith is from.
Smith and Jones are the same height with Jones have a bit more weight on him heading into his freshman year with Alabama. The similarities are there, though, and adding even a fraction of a Jones-type player to the Vols’ receiving room will certainly be welcomed.
“Julio Jones, definitely,” Smith said on who he models his game after. “I have Julio Jones on my wallpaper. Just seeing him anytime I open my phone or my tablet, that’s a guy I know I’m trying to reach the greatness of and one day surpass it.”
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