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Why freshman WR Nathan Leacock 'stands out' for Tennessee this spring

IMG_3593by: Grant Ramey04/06/23GrantRamey
Nathan Leacock
Credit: Volquest

Nathan Leacock came to Tennessee with all the physical traits he needed. The recruiting rankings told the story. The four-star prospect was the No. 41 overall player in the On3 ratings, ranked No. 6 wide receiver in the class. 

“Physically,” Tennessee second-year wide receivers coach Kelsey Pope said after practice on Monday, “he’s absolutely gifted. Extremely gifted physically.”

Now what the 6-foot-3, 200-pounder out of Milbrook High School in Raleigh, N.C., needs to do is fine tune his craft. It’s a long process that started this spring and is progressing in the right direction.

“Nate’s biggest thing,” Pope said, “and what he’s starting to do and areas he’s starting to grow, is more of the mental, detail technique piece.”

Leacock committed to Tennessee in July, picking the Vols over North Carolina, North Carolina State and a long list of other offers. His On3 scouting summary described his physical talent in detail:

“Late-blooming receiver with a strong combination of size, length and straight-line speed. Has the traits and overall skill set to project as a high-end outside wide receiver at the next level. Owns ready-made size checking in at close to 6-foot-3 and around 195 pounds prior to his senior season. Has outstanding length for the position with arms that measure over 33 inches, along with a 9 ⅞ inch hand. Pairs the size with plus long speed, running a personal best of 10.88 seconds in the 100 meters as a junior.”

Kelsey Pope: ‘I can’t be all athlete and get open in this league’

But physical skills can only get you so far in the SEC, Pope explained. That’s where everything else involved in playing the position comes in.

“As a wideout, I can’t be all athlete and get open in this league,” Pope said. “There is a method to the madness. You’ve got to be a technician, you’ve got to be detailed oriented in your work. And that allows you to create separation against some of the guys you’ll face in this league.”

What Tennessee is facing at wide receiver is filling big shoes. Jalin Hyatt and Cedric Tillman, both off to the NFL Draft, after combining for 3,000 receiving yards and 32 touchdowns over the last two seasons. 

The Vols return Bru McCoy, Ramel Keyton and Squirrel White at receiver in 2023 and added Oregon transfer wide receiver Dont’e Thornton alongside Leacock and three-star in-state wide receiver Nate Spillman. 

Nathan Leacock ‘starting to hone in on the detail’ at wide receiver

Leacock is doing his part to make a name for himself in the group early on.

“He’s been awesome,” Pope said. “He’s been a guy that kind of stands out .. he’s a physical specimen (and) he’s done a great job the last couple practices starting to hone in on the detail.”

That included Saturday’s scrimmage at Neyland Stadium. 

“Nathan Leacock did a couple nice things on the back half of the scrimmage,” Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said on Saturday. “I thought he settled in, too. So there are a lot of positives. There is going to be a lot of things we have to learn from, too.”

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