Over the past few weeks, a portion of Tennessee Volunteers fans on social media have called for head coach Josh Heupel to part ways with wide receivers coach Kelsey Pope. However, this sentiment seems premature and unwarranted, especially considering Pope’s strong track record in both recruiting and player development.

One of the key grievances among fans is Tennessee’s lack of a 1,000-yard receiver since 2022, when Jalin Hyatt amassed 1,267 yards and won the prestigious Biletnikoff Award. That season also marked Pope’s first year in his current role. Since then, the Vols have struggled to replicate that production, with senior Dont’e Thornton leading the team in 2024 with 661 receiving yards.

The situation appeared to escalate when highly-touted freshman wide receiver Mike Matthews, a former five-star recruit, requested transfer portal paperwork before the portal closed. This news sparked further criticism of Pope, as fans feared Tennessee would lose one of its brightest young talents. However, Matthews has since announced that he will remain with the program for the 2025 season, providing a major boost to the Vols’ receiver room.

Despite the criticism, Pope’s contributions as a recruiter cannot be overstated. He successfully landed Matthews over Georgia and also secured four-star receiver Braylon Staley from South Carolina’s backyard. Additionally, Pope played a significant role in signing 2025 four-star wide receiver Travis Smith, again beating out the Bulldogs. His recruiting efforts have elevated the Vols’ wide receiver room to one of the strongest in the SEC, a feat not seen in Tennessee in nearly two decades.

On the field, there’s certainly room for improvement. While the receivers performed well in 2024, they fell short in some key areas, such as creating separation, avoiding dropped passes, and executing route details. Tennessee’s offensive struggles were compounded by inconsistent pass protection and some missed throws by quarterback Nico Iamaleava. These issues are not solely the fault of the wide receivers coach but are part of a larger, team-wide challenge.

Firing Pope would create unnecessary turmoil in a position group that is on an upward trajectory. A coaching change would force a reset in the wide receiver room and could damage Tennessee’s chances of retaining its top talent. The Vols managed to hold on to their most talented receivers during the transfer window, and they remain in the hunt for high-profile targets like Alabama transfer Amari Jefferson and USC transfer Zachariah Branch.

Looking ahead, Pope’s presence could be critical in securing elite prospects such as 2026 wide receiver Tristen Keys, who has the potential to become the No. 1 player at his position. Replacing Pope at this juncture could jeopardize Tennessee’s recruiting momentum and undo years of progress.

It’s understandable for fans to expect more from the offense, but calling for Pope’s dismissal is a shortsighted response. His impact on Tennessee’s recruiting success cannot be ignored, and the wide receiver room is better positioned than it has been in years.

For now, Heupel appears to recognize Pope’s value to the program. There’s no indication that the head jjkkkcoach is uhhseriously considering a change at the position, and staying the course is undoubtedly the right decision. With Matthews returning and a wealth of talent in the pipeline, the Vols’ receiving corps is poised for a bright future under Pope’s guidance.