Nico Iamaleava explains why this Tennessee Vols wide receiver group is different than previous ones

It was a very productive day for Tennessee's passing game on Saturday afternoon inside Neyland Stadium.  Tennessee's orange and white teams passed for four touchdowns to four different receivers, with two going for over 60 yards.  

Although wide receivers Bru McCoy and Squirrel White sat out, Tennessee's wide receiver group pretty much stole the show, with some new faces having some big days.  Tulane transfer Chris Brazzell II led all receivers with 89 yards on 4 catches, punctuated by a 71-yard score.  Redshirt freshman Dayton Sneed had 5 grabs for 63 yards with a 13-yard touchdown.  Heralded true freshman Mike Matthews had a 63-yard touchdown and laid a nasty block on Sneed's score.  

Indeed, it's a group that looks to have players capable of making plays well beyond the first and second team slots on the depth chart.  QB Nico Iamaleava, who completed 7 of 9 passes for 93 yards and a touchdown, was asked to explain his receiving corps, and his response was twofold: depth and size. 

"I just think we've got a lot in our receiver room.  A lot more receiver depth than we've had before.  And then you add the size to it.  A lot of young guys like can play up, like Mike Matthews and Bralon Staley.  So, it's fun to see this receiver room grow to where it's become, and I'm exiting to go out there and play with these guys."

Asked about what stood out with Matthews during the game and spring, Iamaleava talked about an aspect that Matthews has that not many young receivers have in his eyes. 

"I think his catch radius, you know, he can go up and get the ball at a high level.  It's rare seeing that from young guys coming, but I think Mike Matthews coming in, I think we expected that of him, and he's showed that every day in spring." 

Add in Dont'e Thornton, who was starting to come into his own late last year on the outside after starting the season in the slot, and Chas Nimrod, who had a 27-yard touchdown on Saturday, and you have a potential embarrassment of riches for Iamaleava to target next season.  

The question is who will step up in fall camp and separate themselves?  Because right now, Josh Heupel will have as difficult a time as ever in deciding who steps on the field first on Saturdays.