Four-Star WR Braylon Staley Checks All The Boxes For Tennessee
Wide receiver has been and will continue to be a reoccurring conversation around the Tennessee Volunteers. When you send two wideouts to the NFL in one offseason, you must reload, especially because they expect a few more departures after the 2023 season. The Vols have had a few top targets at the position they have been in from day one, but the other targets have been a rotating cast of characters. They may have settled on one target, and a good one, at that.
2024 four-star wide receiver Braylon Staley is a native of Aiken, South Carolina. The Vols hadn't gotten him on campus before this past weekend, but the two parties worked things out and settled on a June 16 official visit. He visited alongside 15 others, but most notably quarterback Jake Merklinger. Staley was the only wideout on the trip, and getting the face time with Merklinger doesn't hurt Tennessee's chances in this one. The buzz around Knoxville was quite positive after Staley left town, as he connected well with wide receivers coach Kelsey Pope. The idea of adding him gets even more appealing when you turn on the tape.
Braylon Staley, 2024 WR
It's becoming a requirement for Tennessee receiver targets to run track in high school. Staley is a state-champion triple jumper, recording a 46'10.5" during his sophomore year. His 100-meter dash time sat around 11.21 seconds, a little slower than the typical Power-5 wideout. However, there's track speed and game speed, and Staley routinely torches defenders downfield. He's a full 6-1 and 180 pounds, utilizing that frame in contested catch scenarios. Staley fits really well into Tennessee's offense because of how he performs in tight spaces.
If the Vols have proven anything, they can get receivers into open space. Once you get there, however, the alleys will inevitably close. Bru McCoy logged 667 yards in 2022 because of how he could create from the X-receiver spot when defenders closed space. Staley is built in a similar mold; he redirects well enough to project a few tunnel screens per game at the high end in college. When it's time to go up and get the football, there's no question whose it is. Staley's leaping ability and natural hands render most high school defensive backs useless. Other suitors include Clemson, Miami, and North Carolina, and Staley travels to Chapel Hill this weekend for an official visit before beginning to lock in on making a decision.
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