He’ll be asked to fill some big shoes.
As college football continues to evolve, so does bowl season. The once prestigious traditional matchups have lost their appeal, thanks to an expanded College Football Playoff and the rising popularity of opt-outs. Tennessee has been hit in that department as Chris Brazzell, Jermod McCoy, Colton Hood, Joshua Josephs and Arion Carter have all decided to focus on the NFL Draft process.
Now, especially as the NCAA has relaxed redshirt rules, bowls serve as a look at the future. We saw that a couple of years ago with Nico Iamaleava getting the nod after Joe Milton opted out. This year we won’t be getting a look at a quarterback of the future, but instead we’ll get a glimpse of a future receiver or two.
Radarious Jackson is expected to start in place of Brazzell, attempting to fill big shoes in the Tennessee offense. Brazzell and Joey Aguilar made everything go this season for the Volunteers, re-igniting the downfield passing attack that had been missing for a couple of seasons.
“Radarious and Travis Smith, both of those guys getting action,” Josh Heupel said on Friday after bowl practice in Nashville. “Expect both of them to play at a really high level. Those were guys that we had a lot of trust heading into the season based on what they had done during spring ball. Their maturity, their summer prep. Both of them got nicked up at different points during the season but had finished in a great way. Expect them to play really well.”
Jackson seems to be further along than Smith at this point after both fought through injuries this season. The 6-2, 210 pound receiver out of Memphis was a 4-star prospect in the class of 2025, ranking as the 269th overall player in the class, per 247Sports. Jackson has seven catches for 72 yards on the year, playing sparingly behind Tennessee’s top three receivers.
Now, looking ahead to 2026, Jackson can solidify his spot in the Tennessee offense against Illinois.
“A guy that as he came in, and I’ve said this to him, just his maturity was at a different level than I probably anticipated,” Heupel said of Jackson. “And I’m saying that in a really positive way. Had great work habits, willing to do extra, grew inside of our offense extremely quickly.
“But his athletic traits, he’s got the ability to make plays once the ball is in his hands. Perimeter screens. He’s got the ability to be a weapon in that way, but he’s extremely loose and fluid, explosive, has the ability to go attack the football and play big and long and his ability to open up back hip long on shoulders back behind. He’s got a really big catch radius and Joey’s got a lot of trust in him, and Travis as young guys.”
Barring any portal surprises, Tennessee should bring back Mike Matthews and Braylon Staley for 2026. Both Jackson and Smith will be in the mix for that other starting spot, but we also can’t count out 5-star signee Tristen Keys. 4-star local product Tyreek King could also factor in, giving Tennessee plenty of talented depth, albeit very young and inexperienced.
Heupel and Kelsey Pope will try to fix some of that inexperience on Tuesday in the Music City Bowl, getting an opportunity to turn the page and give a little potential preview of the 2026 passing attack.
Category: General Sports
