Tennessee wide receiver Chris Brazzell has declared for the 2026 NFL Draft and opted out of the Music City Bowl, the school confirmed to Knox News on Dec. 11.
Brazzell, a 6-foot-5, 200-pounder, is projected as an early round draft pick. He will graduate on Dec. 12.
Brazzell was a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award, given to the top receiver in college football. And he led the SEC with 1,017 yards receiving and nine TD catches, along with 62 receptions, in the regular season.
No. 23 Tennessee (8-4) plays Illinois (8-4) in the Music City Bowl on Dec. 30 (5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) in Nashville.
Without Brazzell, Tennessee will provide a preview of its 2026 receiving corps. Quarterback Joey Aguilar will rely on Braylon Staley (64 receptions, 806 yards, six TDs) and Mike Matthews (50 receptions, 770 yards, four TDs). Freshmen Radarious Jackson and Travis Smith will step into Brazzell’s role.
How Chris Brazzell turned from Tulane transfer to Tennessee star
Brazzell was a coveted transfer when he came from Tulane to Tennessee in 2024.
His first season with the Vols was hit-or-miss. He had 29 catches for 333 yards and two TDs, including the game-winning score to beat Alabama.
But Brazzell burst on the scene in the 2025 season as a high-flying deep threat who averaged 16.4 yards per catch.
He became the 10th UT player to record 1,000 yards receiving in a season by reaching the mark in a 45-24 loss to Vanderbilt on Nov. 29.
Robert Meachem holds the UT single-season record with 1,298 yards receiving in 2006. Joey Kent reached 1,000 yards in two different seasons. Jalin Hyatt had 1,267 yards in the 2022, when he won the Biletnikoff Award.
Tennessee all-time single season receiving yards
- Robert Meachem: 1,298 yards (2006)
- Jalin Hyatt: 1,267 yards (2022)
- Marcus Nash: 1,170 yards (1997)
- Justin Hunter: 1,083 yards (2012)
- Cedric Tillman: 1,081 yards (2021)
- Joey Kent: 1,080 yards (1996)
- Joey Kent: 1,055 yards (1995)
- Da’Rick Rogers: 1,040 yards (2011)
- Chris Brazzell: 1,017 yards (2025)
- Kelley Washington: 1,010 yards (2001)
- Lucas Taylor: 1,000 yards (2007)
Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email [email protected]. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.
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