Breaking: Vols Sign Elite WR and dual-sport star Malachi Wideman

The Vols entered the 2020 recruiting cycle knowing that the wide receiver position would be a high priority. Tennessee will be looking to replace Jauan Jennings, Marquez Callaway, and Tyler Byrd this fall, and next season will see Jordan Palmer and Brandon Johnson exhaust their eligibility. Tennessee and wide receiver coach Tee Martin needed to find the next group of receivers for the Vols, a school traditionally referred to as, “Wide Receiver U.” The 2020 cycle is important in Tennessee's goal of being able to use that moniker more, and on National Signing Day, the Vols landed have now landed two players that will impact that process. After signing four-star Athlete Dee Beckwith from Florence High School (Florence, AL), the Vols have now signed a second four-star pass catcher, Malachi Wideman from Venice High School (Venice, FL).

Tennessee has recruited to a type for most of the 2020 class at receiver. The Vols have worked the hardest with receivers that have been between 5’9” and 6’0” and between 180-200 pounds. Those receivers have all possessed absolutely elite speed as well. The Vols landed a pair of those receivers in four-star signees Jalin Hyatt and Jimmy Calloway. While he is going to get a look at quarterback, Jimmy Holiday could also figure into the receiver mix and fits into that type. In Wideman, the Vols are getting a completely different type of receiver. Wideman has good speed, but he is 6’5” and 195 pounds. He gives this Tennessee class a huge body on the edge that also possesses outstanding leaping ability. Jim Chaney showed that his offense thrives utilizing jump balls and back shoulder throws on the edge. Those type of catches require big, physical receivers out muscling defensive backs for balls, timing leaps, and having the ball skills to catch balls away from the body and pull them in. These are skills that Jennings and Callaway developed to an elite level, and they are skills that Wideman already possesses as well. Jennings and Callaway are going to leave huge shoes behind for the next crop of Volunteer receivers to fill, but Wideman has the body type and skills to fill their role within the offense.

Wideman is a smooth athlete. Coming into and out of breaks, accelerating off the line, and shaking defenders after he has the ball, Wideman just looks smooth as a runner. The ease of his stride belies his speed and acceleration. While he makes it look easy, so fluid it looks like he is not expensing effort, he rapidly explodes off the line and eats up yards in routes and on the run. Wideman runs good routes for the high school level, but Martin will need to grow and sharpen his route tree in Knoxville. That said, Wideman already runs the deep comeback, deep stop, and other back shoulder throws at a high level for the college game. He shows the ability to slam on the brakes on film, get back to the ball, use his body to shield the defender from the ball, and go up to snatch the ball out of the air wherever it is in his radius. Wideman has a big frame that the strength and conditioning staff will want to put more muscle on, but he already shows the willingness to be physical and fight through defenders for catches. Wideman is a red zone terror with his size and leaping ability, and with his willingness to fight through contact with a defensive back, he should make an immediate impact for Tennessee near the goal line.

Jeremy Pruitt isn't the only coach on Rocky Top that will be excited about Wideman coming to Knoxville. Also like Beckwith, Wideman looks to be a factor for Rick Barnes and the Tennessee basketball team as well. Wideman is a four-star small forward/shooting guard on the hardwood. Wideman is an explosive wing, able to make thunderous finishes at the rim. He gained internet fame a few months ago after winning a slam dunk contest in Florida. Wideman has a wingspan that helps him defensively, as does his physicality that was developed through football. The leaping ability, high pointing of a ball, and shielding defenders with his body translates across both sports. Wideman is an aggressive rebounder that moves players away from the rim and wins contested rebounds. Wideman is a good scorer with a solid offensive game. His strength, explosion, and physicality are key to what he offers on the hardwood.

In Wideman, the Vols have added a Top 50 player in the nation, at a position of need, with a skillset that is dramatically different from other targets in the class. Wideman fills a top need for Tennessee with an elite talent, and he allows Him Chaney the option to continue to use one of the most effective portions of his playbook. The Vols struggled mightily in the red zone in 2019, and Wideman adds a weapon to immediately improve that area as well. This was one of the best unsigned players in the country sliding into one of the best situations for him on the football field. From a basketball perspective, Wideman had offers to play both sports at multiple schools. He would have been the top recruit at several Power Five programs currently ranked in the Top 25 of college basketball. At Tennessee, his addition may be enough to push the Vols to the number one recruiting class in the nation. Tennessee only had a few spots remaining for National Signing Day, and thus far, they have filled two of those spots with a pair of highly coveted, immensely talented players.