Tennessee’s projected top three wide receivers for 2007 did not enter this season with a great deal of experience. In fact, Lucas Taylor, Austin Rogers and Josh Briscoe owned a combined total of just 29 catches for 321 yards and one touchdown in their collegiate careers prior to this season.

But in four 2007 games to date, the current Vols trio matches up quite nicely with departed former teammates Robert Meachem, Jayson Swain and Bret Smith.

Those three heralded Vols, through four games one year ago, had a combined 50 catches for 819 yards and seven touchdowns. Meachem led the way with 23 catches for a whopping 420 yards and four scores, and his rate of 18.3 yards per catch lifted the threesome’s overall average to 16.4 yards per reception. Swain at the time had 19 catches for 314 yards and three TDs, while Smith added eight catches for 85 yards despite missing one game because of injury.

Compare those statistics to this season’s combined total for Taylor-Rogers-Briscoe of 67 catches, 824 yards and four TDs. Taylor leads with 24 receptions for 382 yards and two touchdowns. Briscoe follows with 23 catches for 191 yards and a score, with Rogers at 20 catches, 251 yards and one touchdown. The overall yards-per-catch number is slightly lower at 12.3, but the balance is better as all three receivers have at least 20 catches and nearly 200 yards apiece.

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