In some ways, Vanderbilt’s wide receiver corps in 2024 had the same story as the running backs: a few reliable pass catchers, but little explosiveness. And two of the top three receivers from 2024 are now gone, with Quincy Skinner and Loic Fouonji graduating.

The difference? There were a couple of freshmen who didn’t play much in 2024 whose upside I like, and there was some transfer portal activity. We’ll see how it translates on the field in 2025, but I can talk myself into this group.

Starters, I guess

Junior Sherrill, junior: Sherrill wasn’t Vanderbilt’s leading pass catcher in 2024 — that would be Eli Stowers — but to the extent Vanderbilt had a go-to wide receiver, it was Sherrill, who had 29 catches for 411 yards and three touchdowns. Sherrill’s ideal location is the slot, so Vanderbilt could really use somebody else to emerge as a deep threat.

Trent Hudson, redshirt senior: Had 36 catches for 571 yards and 10 touchdowns at New Mexico State in 2023, then transferred to Mississippi State where… he basically didn’t play, getting into four games and not registering any stats. For a truly shitty Mississippi State team. Anyway, I’m telling myself that this is an example of Jeff Lebby’s incompetence.

Richie Hoskins, redshirt senior: Against all logic, he keeps playing and keeps making catches in important spots, with 11 for 131 yards and two touchdowns last season. He’s a former walk-on and looks like he should not be playing at this level. He will somehow glue himself to the field and end up making the most important catch this season.

Or maybe it’s these guys

Joseph McVay, redshirt freshman: Caught one pass in 2024. It was a 65-yard touchdown. We could use more of that. Where he fits in this season, I’m not sure. If Vanderbilt really can’t find a guy to stretch the field, it might be this guy.

Boski Barrett, redshirt freshman: Another three-star prospect coming out of high school who redshirted last season. He’s a bit undersized at 5’11” and 175, so he’s probably ticketed to be Sherrill’s backup in the slot.

Chance Fitzgerald, redshirt sophomore: Played two seasons at Virginia Tech and basically only saw action on special teams. I don’t know, I guess the coaching staff saw something they liked here.

Tre Richardson, junior: Played at a JUCO and Division II Washburn, whose nickname is the Ichabods, so I like him already. Averaged 18.8 yards per reception at Washburn, so I like him more. Also had an impact in the return game. I may be underrating this guy, though “5’10”/175 and just transferred from a Division II school” does leave me with some questions about how this translates.

Return specialist, probably

Tristen Brown, sophomore: Played in ten games as a true freshman and had three receptions for 27 yards, all against Alcorn State. So… not sure why we burned a redshirt year there. I suspect that the coaching staff views Brown as primarily a return guy, though I can’t prove this.

Freshmen

Kayleb Barnett, freshman: On the one hand, he’s 5’8” and 180 pounds. On the other hand, “won state championships in the 100 meters” is the kind of thing I like to see in my undersized wide receivers. There’s been a long line of guys like this — Jayden McGowan, Darrius Sims, among others — whom Vanderbilt has never figured out what to do with.

Lebron Hill, freshman: Has good size at 6’5” and 200 pounds, though he was only a three-star recruit so I don’t know how close he is to contributing or if the coaching staff is going to decide “yeah, let’s turn him into a tight end” as seems to frequently occur with guys who are 6’5”.