Squirrel White details his improvement in route running

Tennessee has the unenviable task of replacing Biletnikoff Award winner Jalin Hyatt, who is off to the NFL after a phenomenal 2022 season. Enter sophomore Squirrel White, who backed up Hyatt a year ago.

White demonstrated his explosiveness last season as one of the team’s top newcomers, and he’s feeling even more confident heading into his sophomore season.

“I just feel like I just got very comfortable in this offense now that it’s Year 2 and stuff,” White said. “As far as my game, I feel like I got bigger, stronger and faster. My route-running I feel like is better and just understanding the whole game now.”

The 5-foot-10, 165-pound slot receiver was one of the most dynamic players in the country as a true freshman in 2022.

He recorded six catches for 40 or more yards, four catches of 50 or more yards and two catches of 60 or more yards. On top of that, he put together two 100-yard receiving games, including a terrific Orange Bowl showing against Clemson.

White can also return punts, clocked as high as 23.4 miler per hour on the team’s Catapult GPS system. He’s a threat, and he’s ready for his chance to get another crack at it as a sophomore in 2023.

Joe Milton’s growth could benefit Squirrel White

One of the more interesting elements of Tennessee’s 2023 season will be how well new starting quarterback Joe Milton can replace the departed Hendon Hooker. He’s got a rocket of an arm, so a speedy guy who can get downfield like White should certainly stand to benefit.

And Milton appears to be making great progress himself, a really good sign for White.

“He’s continued to grow. Love what he’s done. You know, the other quarterbacks in the room have continued to grow as we’ve put them in a lot of situations,” head coach Josh Heupel said.

“I think that’s one the things I’ve done as a head coach is try to create more situational awareness and actually get more reps in those situations. That’s been a part of [not just] helping those guys but all 125 in the locker room.”

Given White’s ability to be a spark plug and a big-play threat for the offense, something tells us Milton will figure out a way to use him effectively in pretty short order.

Tennessee will return to the gridiron on Sept. 2 with a game against Virginia.