Chris Brazzell II (17) anticipates the snap against Arkansas at Neyland Stadium, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025. Cole Moore/RTI
The Biletnikoff Award, given annually to the nation’s top receiver, released its three finalists on Tuesday with star Tennessee receiver Chris Brazzell not making the cut. Southern Cal’s Malachi Lemon, Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith and UConn’s Skylar Bell are the three finalists for the award.
Brazzell was a semifinalist for the award and has had one of the best seasons of any receiver nationally. The redshirt junior’s caught 56 passes for 926 yards and eight touchdowns. He ranks 11th nationally in receiving yards and is tied for 15th nationally in receiving touchdowns.
Bell has had the best statistical season of any receiver in the country, catching 101 passes for 1,276 yards and 13 touchdowns. Lemon has also been more productive than Brazzell, catching 78 passes for 1,124 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Smith’s numbers are more comparable to Brazzell with the Ohio State star catching 69 passes for 902 yards and 10 touchdowns so far this season.
Tennessee’s balanced production at receiver certainly did not help Brazzell’s candidacy. The Vols two other starting receivers have had strong seasons. Braylon Staley has caught 58 passes for 771 yards and six touchdowns. Mike Matthews has caught 44 passes for 712 yards and four touchdowns.
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The Vols are the only team in the country with three different receivers with over 700 yards receiving this season. All three rank in the top 10 in the SEC in receiving yards.
Brazzell got off to a red-hot start this season, totaling over 100 yards in three of Tennessee’s first five games including an 177-yard, three-touchdown performance in Tennessee’s overtime loss against Georgia. But Brazzell’s production has slowed down a bit over the second half of the season as opponents have focused on taking the star receiver out of games.
The 6-foot-5 receiver has totaled 100-plus yards in just one of Tennessee’s last six games. Brazzell is looking to close the regular season strong as the Vols face Vanderbilt in their regular-season finale against Vanderbilt at Neyland Stadium
Brazzell needs 74 yards against Vanderbilt to total Tennessee football’s first 100-yard season since Jalin Hyatt in 2022. Despite a fantastic season, the Commodores’ secondary has looked shaky at times this season.
