Why it matters for Tennessee football that transfer Chris Brazzell isn't like Dont'e Thornton

Tennessee football tapped the transfer portal for a game-breaking wide receiver in back-to-back offseasons, and now those two wideouts are competing to fulfill the assignment.

In 2023, Dont’e Thornton transferred from Oregon to UT. He had a disappointing debut season because of injuries and playing out of position in the slot.

In January, UT got Tulane transfer Chris Brazzell to fill the role initially intended for Thornton.

UT needs at least one of them – and hopefully both – to break out this season and become a weapon for quarterback Nico Iamaleava. And because the Vols have a tight rotation at wide receiver, Thornton and Brazzell could impact each other’s playing time.

But don’t assume they’re in a head-to-head competition in spring practice.

From their slender 6-foot-5 frames to their similar path to UT, Thornton and Brazzell appear interchangeable. But they’re quite different in important ways that could impact the wide receiver rotation in the 2024 season.

Dont'e Thornton, Chris Brazzell excel in different routes

Thornton is a long strider with a comfort level in running vertical route.

At best, UT fans should hope he could have an impact like Javonta Payton, who had 413 receiving yards and six TDs and led the SEC with a 22.9 yards-per-catch average in 2021. At worst, perhaps Thornton could be a capable backup for a receiving corps that usually suffers at least one major injury each season.

Thornton’s 2023 season was frustrating. He struggled through nagging injuries in the preseason. And he was used in the slot early in the season, where coaches hoped he could repeat the success of Jalin Hyatt as a vertical threat.

Instead, Thornton was uncomfortable, inconsistent and prone to dropping short passes. When he was moved to outside receiver, he had six catches for 135 yards and one TD in his final three games before suffering a season-ending leg injury.

"(Playing at outside receiver) is more comfortable for me because I played in that position my whole life,” Thornton said. “So I feel very comfortable now with a year under my belt in the offense. Everything is a lot easier to me.”

Brazzell’s route tree appears more wide-ranging.

Wide receivers coach Kelsey Pope said Brazzell is a “big guy who has the ability to play small in tight spaces,” particularly over the middle.

“Chris has a unique skillset. He’s loose like a slot. He’s smooth,” Pope said. “He can make the deep catches, and you saw that on his film last year. But he’s really subtle and sudden in his transition (in receiver routes).”

Brazzell said that smooth movement comes from his background playing basketball and a growth spurt late in the high school. He had been undersized for most of his life until growing several inches into a tall wide receiver.

“I’ve played like a little guy my whole life,” Brazzell said. “So I’m not really like a big body receiver who just runs big guy routes. I’m able to run the slant, the curl, the dig. But also I’m able to take the top off (on deep routes).”

Who could start at wide receiver for Vols

Those distinctions are important for how the Vols could use Thornton and Brazzell.

During practice periods open to the media, Thornton has lined up as the backside wide receiver, where Bru McCoy is expected to mostly play when he returns from an ankle injury. Freshman Mike Matthews, a former five-star recruit, has gotten reps behind Thornton.

Squirrel White, the team’s leading receiver last season, returns in the slot. Freshman Braylon Staley, a former four-star recruit, has been his backup.

Brazzell has lined up at outside receiver on the same side as the slot receiver, which is on the opposite side of Thornton. Kaleb Webb has split reps with Brazzell at that position.

It sets up a scenario where the starting receivers could be McCoy, White and Brazzell when the season arrives. Brazzell obviously recognizes that possibility.

“I feel like all the receivers better each other. We’ve got a lot of dogs on the team,” Brazzell said. “So meshing me with guys like Bru and Squirrel should be a fun little time.”

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That would leave Thornton as a situational deep threat or an insurance policy in case McCoy doesn’t immediately return to full strength.

Of course, UT uses a variety of formations with its receivers. And Pope said he’s used eight different rotations in eight practices in spring, so all options are on the table.

But it’s evident that the Vols have different plans for the transfer receivers they got out of the portal the past two years.

Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Emailadam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.

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