Tennessee coach gives encouraging update on 'forgotten' Vols player who was a highly rated recruit

One of the Tennessee Vols' highest rated players in the 2023 recruiting class was four-star wide receiver Nathan Leacock.

Leacock, 6-foot-3/217 lbs from Rolesville, NC, was rated in 247Sports' composite rankings as the No. 13 wide receiver in the 2023 recruiting class and the No. 3 player in the state of North Carolina (Leacock was Tennessee's fourth highest rated signee in 2023).

The former four-star recruit saw action in just one game as a true freshman in 2023. For the most part, he was an afterthought after arriving as a highly-touted recruit (which isn't a big deal -- every player develops at a different pace).

Entering the 2024 season, Leacock hasn't really been mentioned as a wide receiver who's expected to contribute this fall.

But that might be a mistake.

Vols wide receivers coach Kelsey Pope spoke to reporters on Thursday and he offered an encouraging update on the North Carolina native.

“I think that guy’s done a great job this off season," said Pope on Thursday when asked about Leacock. "He caught more balls than anyone this off season. He’s anywhere between like 12,000 and 13,000 balls, which was a huge area that he had to grow in. He’s changed his body. He’s healthy and he’s playing fast right now. And I think, you guys keep asking about growth from everybody, I think the true equalizer is competition.

"We've done a great job of putting talent in that room and when there’s talent in that room, there’s an expectation to make plays, right? And as each guy in the room has done that, there’s a guy on the side that’s looking like, man, I gotta go make that play because I got to earn playing time. And that’s been a huge thing this off season that’s helped us be successful so far.”

The Vols have a deep stable of wide receivers, so Leacock will have to force his way onto the field. But it sounds like he has a good mindset entering the 2024 season. And he obviously has the natural talent. If Leacock puts it all together and he gets a chance this fall, he could end up helping this Tennessee team in 2024 more than anyone expected.

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