The Volunteer football team will look to fill major holes at wide receiver this spring and continue developing players at the tight end position.

The Vols will need to replace four starters from last season, two of which are at wide receiver.

Robert Meachem skipped his senior season after posting All-American stats with 71 catches for 1,298 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2006.

Seniors Jason Swain and Bret Smith benefited from coach Trooper Taylor moving over from running backs to wide receivers and  finished the 2006 season with 88 catches between them.

Replacing them will not be easy.

Coaches hope that Lucas Taylor, Austin Rogers and Josh Briscoe show some consistency and step up before the season begins. Throughout their careers, the trio have combined for only 29 catches.

Sophomore Quintin Hancock has been the only receiver to show consistency during spring practice.

Coach Phillip Fulmer appreciates Hancock's play. Fulmer said, "He has been consistently our best receiver. He makes tough catches and runs well after the catch."

While coaches look for new starters to emerge in the receiving corps, the tight end position is set with Chris Brown returning as the team's leading receiver.

The junior snagged 31 catches for 235 yards in 2006 and Brad Cottam caught 14 passes.

Traditionally, Tennessee tight ends have been blocking threats in the run game instead of receiving threats.

Both Brown and Cottam could see their numbers rise this year as safety valves for quarterback Erik Ainge if the receivers do not step up in a big way by the time the Vols open at California.