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Tennessee football: 3 second-year players who’ll become stars in 2023

By Connor Muldowney

Dec 30, 2022; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Squirrel White (10) celebrates after catching a touchdown pass against the Clemson Tigers during the second half of the 2022 Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2022; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Squirrel White (10) celebrates after catching a touchdown pass against the Clemson Tigers during the second half of the 2022 Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tennessee wide receiver Squirrel White (10) celebrates in the end zone during the Orange Bowl game between the Tennessee Vols and Clemson Tigers at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. on Friday, Dec. 30, 2022. Tennessee defeated Clemson 31-14.Orangebowl1230 2720
Tennessee wide receiver Squirrel White (10) celebrates in the end zone during the Orange Bowl game between the Tennessee Vols and Clemson Tigers at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. on Friday, Dec. 30, 2022. Tennessee defeated Clemson 31-14.Orangebowl1230 2720 /

I’ll be completely honest with you, I expected guys like Kaleb Webb or Cameron Miller to make bigger impacts as true freshman than Squirrel White. And I was so wrong.

White had himself a heck of a freshman year. He finished fourth on the team with 481 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 30 receptions. He was the most productive freshman receiver on the team and became a focal point in an offense that was as explosive as any in the SEC.

Raise your hand if you expected White to have that kind of season as a true freshman. If your hand is raised, you’re lying.

White was a talented recruit out of Pinson, Ala., but he wasn’t the highest-rated kid, sitting at No. 545 nationally and just as the 78th-best receiver on the composite. He exceeded expectations right away.

Now it’s time for him to build on that as he’ll be one of the first rotational pieces at receiver, especially with Dont’e Thornton coming in.

I expect White to have a huge year.

Next. Way-too-early Top 25 projections for 2023. dark

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