Tennessee football's Tee Martin says Marquez Callaway could be one of best in SEC

Mike Wilson
Knoxville

Marquez Callaway was sitting in Tee Martin’s office on Thursday morning, raring to go at the start of preseason practices.

This season is Callaway’s final go at Tennessee, and Martin – the first-year Vols wide receivers coach – thinks it could be a big one.

“I think he has the potential to be one of the best receivers in the SEC,” Martin said. “His body of work speaks for itself, and if he continues to take his game to the next level, I think he could be one of those early round guys (in the NFL Draft).”

Callaway has spent the past two seasons as Tennessee’s No. 1 wide receiver. He has 61 receptions for 998 yards and seven touchdowns in that span, proving to be an acrobatic deep threat and a reliable short option for quarterback Jarrett Guarantano.

He caught a team-high 37 passes for 592 yards last season – both career-bests. But Martin challenged him this offseason to bolster his skill-set.

“Coach has been telling me to speed off the ball and work on speed in the offseason,” Callaway said. “That is why I have been trying to dedicate my time to speed.”

Martin boasted Thursday that Callaway has gotten faster, running a 4.4-second 40-yard dash during the summer. Callaway confirmed the time, which he said “probably” is the best of his career.

“At this point,” he added.

Martin likened Callaway to Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster for his skills and his attitude toward the game. Martin coached Smith-Schuster at USC before he was picked in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft.

“(Smith-Schuster) was very intelligent and did everyt­­hing on special teams and did everything on offense – can play inside, can play outside – and will play hurt,” Martin said. “He does everything you ask a young man to do. I didn’t know Marquez coming into the spring, but he was always eager to jump in and do what you ask him to do, and he loves the game.”

Callaway considered the comparison a compliment, and he wants to back it up on the field.

Working with Martin since the former Tennessee quarterback returned to Knoxville has helped. He said Martin is a coach who “does the best for his players” and his quarterback knowledge improves the wide receivers.

“I think this is a great move for us, especially in the receiving room,” Callaway said.

The Warner Robins, Georgia, native spoke Sunday about an increased sense of leadership. He’s not the most vocal, so when he speaks up, he knows people pay attention. He’s more experienced in that regard, heading into a senior season he hopes is successful.

“I have another year of experience,” Callaway said. “That will be a lot in close games and stuff like that. Being a more vocal and a more outspoken leader and not just in the receiving room, but the whole offense.”