top 10 breakout candidates across the country, and they have to be for UT to take a step forward in 2025

The Tennessee Volunteers have a number of key questions heading into the 2025 season, and chief among them is who will step up as pass catchers for the Volunteers after a mass exodus from last year’s roster.

However, one national outlet sees a pair of Volunteers as prime candidates to do have a breakout season in 2025. ESPN’s Billy Tucker put out a list of top 10 breakout candidates across the country for this season among second-year players, and wide receivers Mike Matthews and Braylon Staley were fifth on the list together.

This is what Tucker had to say about Staley and Matthews:

“Yes, we are hedging our bet with this pick. We expect Matthews or Staley to break out this year as a top SEC receiver. Who that will be depends on who stays healthy, as both have been injury prone. They both have flashed as well.

Matthews is as expected. Sudden and elusive after the catch, the No. 5 wide receiver in the ESPN 300 headlined the Vols’ No. 15 class. Staley was inside the top 300 but as the No. 21 receiver. A former state champion in the 200 meters and triple jump, Staley, who redshirted last season, has excellent short-area quickness, explosive movements and elite ball skills. This WR room needs to produce for the Vols to return to the College Football Playoff.”