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Josh Malone entered his tenure at Tennessee with lofty expectations. Malone was the Volunteer State’s top prospect and a crucial piece in Butch Jones’ first full-year recruiting class.
He rated as a consensus 4-star prospect according to the 247Sports Composite rankings — 5-star on rivals — and was the No. 36 overall prospect for the 2014 national signing class. At 6-2, 191-pounds he had the frame to be an elite SEC wide receiver.
However, Malone didn’t enjoy a breakout season during his first two years in Knoxville. Granted, it’s hard to do so playing in an offense that was as passive as Tennessee’s and competing with more experienced receivers like Marquez North, Von Pearson and Alton “Pig” Howard prior to his dismissal.
But with both players gone, as well as offensive coordinator Mike DeBord claiming to make changes to Tennessee’s passing game, it’s finally time for Malone to have a breakout season and be among the SEC’s best.
Malone showed signs of improvement in 2015 by finishing second among Tennessee’ receivers with 406 yards and two touchdowns on 31 catches. But he should achieve even more success with an expanded role as the Vols’ primary receiver.
Malone is as experienced or more than any other returning Tennessee receiver. He, fellow rising sophomore Josh Smith and rising sophomore Jauan Jennings are projected to start in 2016. There is also a chance that fellow former 4-star prospect Preston Williams competes for more playing time in his second season in Knoxville.
But Malone is now the most talented returning option in the Vols passing attack and should be given more targets. He has both the size and speed to be a downfield passing threat to opposing defenses, which quarterback Josh Dobbs needs to focus on more in his senior season.
Dobbs averaged 6.7 yards-per-attempt which ranked 10th among SEC quarterbacks. His 127.0 quarterback rating ranked eighth. Malone and Dobbs can help each other have career seasons in 2016 if DeBord does add more deep passing plays.
Tennessee’s offensive line should also be improved after gaining more experience. The Vols, who didn’t return a single starter in 2014 and ranked last in both sacks and tackles for loss allowed, have shown steady growth over the past two seasons and should provide Dobbs with enough protection in the pocket to allow plays to develop downfield, which adds to Malone’s value as a playmaker.
The rising junior also has the benefit of being very durable during his first two college seasons. Malone has played in all 26 games for the Vols and made 18 starts. While it’s not guaranteed he’ll continue that success with an expanded role, it does create optimism of his chances as the primary option.
Malone needs 2016 to be “the year” that Tennessee fans have been expecting since his commitment. He’s always been considered a player with unlimited potential and needs to live up to those expectations for the Vols to be successful.
Tennessee is looking to contend for an SEC Championship and needs to develop a multi-dimensional offense. If Dobbs is the most important piece in reaching those goals, Malone is second and will be a deciding factor in whether the Vols’ passing attack improves in 2016.
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