Best story in Tennessee football is developing

The kickoff for Tennessee spring football is near. The best story hasn’t been written. It is developing. There may not be a ceiling. This could be big.

Cedric Tillman, three notches above nothing for three years as a Volunteer, was one of the better receivers in the Southeastern Conference last season – 64 receptions, 1,081 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns.

Josh Heupel, Hendon Hooker and others expect him to be better on his last lap.

That Tillman is a Volunteer is a pretty good story. Recruiters supposedly step on each other scouring the world for college talent. Dozens or hundreds misevaluated Cedric. So did Tennessee’s previous coaching staff.

Background, reasons or excuses? How can this be, how come recruiting experts missed? Well, he was late arriving on the scene.

Cedric grew up in an athletic family in Las Vegas. Father played wide receiver at Alcorn State and for the Denver Broncos and Jacksonville Jaguars. Brother Jamir played wide receiver at Navy. He was the leading receiver for a team that didn’t throw often.

Cedric missed his sophomore season at famed Bishop Gorman High School. He had a fractured forearm. Much of his junior year, when prospects start receiving the most attention from recruiters, he was undersized (5-11) and nowhere near strong enough.

After that, he grew four inches! And added 30 pounds.

Alas, nobody was looking.

Cedric achieved two-star ranking from Rivals. 24/7 said he was No. 1,527 among best college prospects in the country. He was more highly regarded among wide receivers, 241st. You get the message? He was almost nobody.

Clay Helton, then coach at UCLA, knew about Tillman. Helton, in Vegas to check on another player, asked to talk with Cedric. Coach told player he liked him but the Bruins had no openings. He said he would send video to Tennessee.

“He actually did it. He contacted his brother,” said Cedric.

Tillman said he was “shocked, shocked I tell you” to hear from Tyson Helton, offensive coordinator (for a few minutes) for Jeremy Pruitt. Tillman said he was more shocked to receive a scholarship offer. Of course he accepted. He had three previous choices – Hawaii, UNLV and Weber State.

He admitted he was thinking about looking for somewhere to walk on.

“Tennessee – this is not some small, local school. This is Tennessee we’re talking about – SEC, best conference. They took a chance on a guy they had never heard of and just found out about.”

Long after he signed, Tillman and his dad got around to an official visit. That is opposite to how most do it.

Cedric was a Volunteer – more in name than deed. In three seasons, he racked up the grand total of eight receptions. He was behind Marquez Callaway, Joshua Palmer and Jauan Jennings. He said they were very good mentors. He didn’t say anything about quarterback Jarrett Guarantano.

You know what happened after that. Pruitt and associates went away. Heupel came. Kodi Burns became coach of receivers. He immediately identified physical attributes and mental toughness.

“He called me into his office,” Tillman said, “and said there is no reason why I shouldn’t have a thousand-yard season. It definitely became a goal of mine.”

The trademark was big plays in big games.

Tillman’s decision to return set the course for things to come. Heupel and Hooker means no ceiling. Burns’ departure was a surprise. Tillman helped Kelsey Pope get the job. They speak the same language.

Seems to me this good story could get better.

Marvin West welcomes reader comments or questions. His address is marvinwest75@gmail.com