Tennessee wide receiver Staley named SEC Freshman of the Year in football

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Dec. 11—BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Tennessee wide receiver Braylon Staley was named the SEC Freshman of the Year on Wednesday as voted on by the league's head coaches.

Staley, an Aiken native, becomes the third player in program history to earn SEC Freshman of the Year honors, joining running back Jamal Lewis (1997) and quarterback Peyton Manning (1994). He is also the fourth player in the Josh Heupel era to earn an individual SEC postseason award, joining Dylan Sampson (SEC Offensive Player of the Year — 2024), Hendon Hooker (SEC Offensive Player of the Year — 2022) and Velus Jones Jr. (SEC Co-Special Teams Player of the Year — 2021).

The redshirt-freshman had a breakout season during his second year with the program, ranking sixth in the SEC in receiving yards (806) and receiving yards per game (67.2). Staley led all SEC freshmen in both of those categories and also finished tied for the league lead among freshmen with six receiving touchdowns.

Staley, who started his high school career at Aiken High before graduating from Strom Thurmond, was tabbed as the SEC Freshman of the Week twice this season following wins over Syracuse (4 rec., 95 yds, 1 TD) and Arkansas (6 rec., 109 yds). Staley also posted a 100-plus yard performance in the Vols' road victory at Kentucky ( 6 rec., 105 yds) and hauled in five catches for 75 yards and a career-best two touchdowns the following week against No. 18 Oklahoma.

Additionally, Staley was recognized as one of 14 semifinalists for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award and was named to The Athletic Midseason All-Freshman Team earlier this season.

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