Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | REC | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 56-9vs Furman | 2 | 8 | 4.0 | 0 | 5 | |
| Wk 2 | W 45-24@ Georgia Tech | 1 | 20 | 20.0 | 1 | 20 | Season-high 20 yds |
| Total | 3 | 28 | 12.0 | 1 | 20 |
#14
Braylon Staley
Sophomore wide receiver for Tennessee. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′0″ · 190 lb · Aiken, SC · Strom Thurmond
CFB Index 74 · #58 of 485 WRsHigh confidenceReturning to Tennessee for 2026
CFB Index
A single number blending on-field production (an EPA-based value lane) with box-score output for this player's position.
0-100, scaled within each position's own cohort — not directly comparable across positions.
The numbers
28
receiving yards · 2026
3 catches · 1 TD · 9.3 per catch
2 games into 2026 so far -- Backed by 10 rec · 92 yds · 1 TD -- top 1% catches game. -- Best game: 1 rec, 20 yds, 1 TD, at Georgia Tech
The play that turned itSwung Tennessee from 30% to 64% to win.Oklahoma at Tennessee · 33-27
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
2 wide receiver for Tennessee. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 4-star recruit to Tennessee in 2024.
- Named SEC Freshman of the Year in 2025.
Buzz vs Tape
Country hotter than the fans
The wider college football conversation reads him warmer than his own fans do — a gap of 26.9 points in belief.
29.8own fans
56.7national conversation
Tennessee Volunteers score the perfect slot for SEC Media Days, setting the stage for maximum buzz around Josh Heupel's squad. With quarterbacks George MacIntyre and Faizon Brandon, a revamped defense under Jim Knowles, and stars like…
Braylon Staley
Wins underneath on volume and route precision. Third year in the Tennessee receiving corps, same address the whole way. In 2025 the league put his name on paper for the first time: SEC Freshman of the Year. The receipt: 20 rec yds, 1 receptions against Georgia Tech — Week 2, 2026.
28 REC YDS · 3 REC · 1 REC TD
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- seasons on the roster
- recognition record
- game log
His career
He arrived as a blue-chip recruit and played like one.
The week the volume broke through — put up 105 yds at Kentucky.Kentucky · W 56-342025
2024
- Signed with Tennessee4-star out of Strom Thurmond
202513 games
The role got bigger.
- SEC Freshman of the Yearwinner
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★★
CFB
College
Tennessee
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Trophy case · Confirmed honors
What the selectors said
🎓
FRESHMAN HONORS
Freshman recognition (2025)
2 mention(s)
Coaching lineage · 2024–2026
1 coach2024–2026
Tennessee
Played his entire career under Josh Heupel.
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
3 seasons under Josh Heupel — 20-8 over that span.
2024Tennessee10-3HC: Josh Heupel · Run-heavy
2025Tennessee8-5HC: Josh Heupel · Balanced
2026Tennessee2-0HC: Josh Heupel · Run-heavy
Where this profile ranks vs the WR cohort
Box-score percentiles
High confidence
Concern: rec yards (0th percentile).
Box-score rates (5)
Percentiles versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score rates.
Splits & context
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 2 games: 1.5 REC/g, 14.0 YDS/g, 12.0 YPR, 0.5 TD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Josh Heupel
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2026
Backup
On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.
Recognition
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
2026 outlook
In the mix for All-SEC
Based on 2025: #10 of 58 SEC WRs
How the All-SEC estimate is computed
35% estimated, 95% confidence interval 31–38%. Base rate measured from players who finished at a comparable rank in their conference and came back the next season. It is an estimate from a small sample, not a forecast of this player.
Career stats
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 56–9
vs Furman
2 rec · 8 yds
Dominant 47-point win at home against Furman.
With F. Brandon — 226 yds · 3 TD · 0 INT · 68 rush yds (10 car) · 2 TD · M. Matthews — 4 rec · 132 yds · 2 TD
Game log
How he plays
Play style
Runs precise routes in tight quarters. Volume player who keeps chains moving.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
Tennessee
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Wide receiver · Tennessee
Returning around him
- 35% of 2024 offensive production back (Moderate turnover)
- 5 Tennessee players drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: -8 net (21 in / 29 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Tennessee · Last season: 8-5 (AP #18) · Talent rank #13 · 2026 recruiting class #8
DNA match
Player DNA
Slot Technician
Runs precise routes in tight quarters. Volume player who keeps chains moving.
WR
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Rakim Jarrett’s 2021 season.
88%match
Matches Rakim on
Total EPA (college ability)
TD rate
Class year
Differs from Rakim on
Recruiting rating (lower)
Through 1 college season, his career arc tracks closest to Drew Estrada’s path through Baylor.
Matches Drew on
Height
Weight
Yards per reception
As a sophomore, his production profile tracks closest to Na'eem Abdul-Rahim Gladding's sophomore season at Old Dominion (2025).
79%match
Matches Na'eem on
Weight
EPA / play (adj)
TD rate
Differs from Na'eem on
Class year (lower)
Reception volume (higher)
Background
CAREER HONORSl 2026 Biletnikoff Award Preseason Watch List 2026 Preseason All-SEC Second Team (Athlon | Phil Steele) 2025 Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award Semifinalist 2025 The Athletic Freshman All-America First Team 2025 SEC Freshman of the Year (AP, Coaches) 2025 SEC All-Freshman Tea...
The receiver room · Tennessee
- #14Braylon Staley837 receiving yards · 2025
- #4Mike Matthews813 receiving yards · 2025
- #3Radarious Jackson90 receiving yards · 2025
- #9Joakim Dodson38 receiving yards · 2025
- #1Travis Smith Jr.29 receiving yards · 2025
12 more on the roster · Tennessee team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology