ESPN names Tennessee’s Chris Brazzell as ‘sleeper’ who could break out this season

Tennessee Football transfer receiver Chris Brazzell was one of 32 players this week listed by ESPN as a potential “sleeper” who could have a breakout season in 2024.

“Brazzell wouldn’t be characterized as a sleeper with his previous team or league,” ESPN Senior Writer Adam Rittenberg wrote , “as he earned third-team All-AAC honors after leading Tulane in receiving last fall. He now tries to build his reputation in the SEC and joins a Vols receivers room that includes proven players in Squirrel White , Bru McCoy and Dont’e Thornton , as well as incoming freshman Mike Matthews , an ESPN five-star recruit.

“But Brazzell has impressed his new coaches, and not just with the big-play ability he displayed at Tulane (seven catches of 30 yards or longer).”

Chris Brazzell last season: 44 catches, 771 yards, 5 TDs

Brazzell caught 44 passes for 771 yards and five touchdowns during his breakout sophomore season at Tulane a year ago. He was ranked No. 18 among transfer wide receivers in the 2024 class and was No. 97 overall in the portal according to the On3 rankings.

He made his unofficial debut in Tennessee’s Orange and White Game in April, catching four passes for 89 yards, including a 71-yard touchdown in the second half.

“He’s a guy that pops out for us,” Josh Heupel told ESPN . “He has length, athleticism, has the ability to be extremely explosive vertically but he’s gifted that way too, sticks his foot in the ground. He’s got great ball skills and he’s got a great catch radius.”

ESPN ranked its top 100 college football players for the 2024 season on Thursday, with Tennessee junior edge rusher James Pearce topping the list at No. 1 overall . Redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava was ranked No. 92.

Season Opener: No. 15 Tennessee vs. Chattanooga, August 31, 12:45 p.m ET, SEC Network

Pearce last season led Tennessee’s defense with 10.0 sacks during his breakout sophomore year. He also led the team in tackles for loss with 14.5 and added 16 quarterback hits. He played 462 snaps in 13 games, with 246 pass-rushing snaps and 182 snaps in run defense.

“Entering his third season at Tennessee,” ESPN’s David Hale wrote , “the 6-5, 243-pound Pearce is the top pass rusher in the country despite having started only three career games. He’s projected as a top-10 pick in the 2025 NFL draft and has 16.5 tackles for loss and 12 sacks in his first two seasons.

“Pearce was a first-team All-SEC selection last season by both the AP and coaches after ranking fifth nationally with 38 total pressures.”

Iamaleava this season takes over as the starting quarterback at long last. He was ranked as the No. 1 overall prospect in the On3 ratings in 2023, picking the Vols over Miami, Alabama, Georgia and others while headlining Tennessee’s recruiting class.

He appeared in five games last season and made his first career start in the Citrus Bowl against Iowa, combining for 178 total yards and four total touchdowns.

“A top-25 recruit in 2023,” Hale wrote in the ESPN ranking , “Iamaleava gave us a taste of what he’s capable of in 2023, completing 28 of 45 passes for 314 yards and two touchdowns, scrambling nine times for 72 yards and rushing for three bowl TDs versus Iowa. He looks like the total package.”

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