It only takes a year to go from weakness to strength. In 14 games last year, Tennessee's wide receivers proved as much.

Replacing all three starters from 2006, Lucas Taylor, Austin Rogers and Josh Briscoe didn't miss a beat, combining for 2,181 yards and 15 touchdowns after many questioned their abilities before the season.

But, as Briscoe sees it, those questions are still swirling despite the receivers' production in 2007.

"We're going to compete just like we did last year," says Briscoe, who finished with 56 catches for 557 yards and a team-high six touchdowns. "People still don't think we can get the job done as a group, so we're going out and take the challenge upon ourselves to go out and show everyone that we're not the weakest link."

Tennessee's wide receivers, like the rest of the offense, has plenty of talent returning.

Taylor, a senior, leads the bunch after catching 73 passes for 1,000 yards in replacing first-round NFL draft pick Robert Meachem (school-record 1,298 yards in 2006).

Taylor's output last year marked the first time UT has had 1,000-yard receivers in back-to-back seasons since Peyton Manning was quarterback.

But it's not just Taylor.

Junior Austin Rogers finished second on the team with 56 catches for 624 yards and four touchdowns, proving a reliable target over the middle and in key situations.

Briscoe, a senior, finished with touchdowns in four of UT's last five games and caught a combined 15 passes for 180 yards and two scores against LSU in the SEC championship game and Wisconsin in the Outback Bowl.

But this spring, Tennessee focused on its younger receivers - sophomores Gerald Jones and Denarius Moore, redshirt freshman Ahmad Paige and junior Quintin Hancock - with Taylor and Rogers out due to injury and a class conflict that kept Briscoe from mid-week practices.

The result was increased depth and more work within a new offense.

"They got to play a lot of football," offensive coordinator Dave Clawson said of UT's younger wide receivers.

"That group has the potential to be probably as deep a group as we have on the football team."

That means plenty of competition when practice begins next month.

Clawson would like five or six receivers to get significant playing time this fall, with the top two or three players taking about two-thirds of the snaps.

Once fall camp begins, Clawson and quarterback Jonathan Crompton will be looking for a playmaker to emerge.

For all the yards UT's starters gained last year, Taylor's 51-yard touchdown catch against Mississippi State was the longest play for a receiver last year.

Although Paige was named one of UT's most improved players on offense this spring, Jones is the leading candidate to unseat one the three starters.

"He's a guy we really need to count on to make plays for us," Clawson said of Jones, who also rushed for 58 yards and two touchdowns on eight carries while lined up at quarterback.

"It was important that he develop as a wide receiver this spring, that he learn to read coverage and learn how to release press coverage and become a complete football player as a receiver."

At tight end, the Vols lose do-everything Chris Brown, a frequent safety valve last season who had 41 catches for 282 yards and six touchdowns.

Junior Jeff Cottam is the likely starter at tight end, but he and sophomore Luke Stocker, UT's other most improved player in spring practice, combined for just eight catches a year ago.

True freshman Aaron Douglas, at 6-foot-6, could make an impact this fall as well.

Just what kind of impact the tight end has this fall - and how many receivers will be on the field at any given time - will be determined by productivity.

"I think it's critical that we get our five best players, aside from our quarterback and the five (offensive) linemen, out on the field," Clawson said.

"You need to do a little bit of two-tight ends, but what you major in is who your best five are."

Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.

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