Tennessee Receivers Coach Kelsey Pope Mic'd Up During Spring Practice

An inside look at the Vols' wide receivers coach during a spring training session

Apr. 4, 2026 at 8:06pm

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Tennessee wide receivers coach Kelsey Pope was recently mic'd up during the Volunteers' spring practice, providing an inside look at his coaching style and interactions with players like wide receiver Mike Matthews. Pope is entering his fifth season as Tennessee's receivers coach and has helped the program develop an SEC-best 34 individual 100-yard receiving games and multiple First Team All-SEC recipients since 2021.

Why it matters

The video gives fans a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse of Pope's coaching methods and his work with the Vols' talented receiving corps, which is expected to be a strength of the team again in 2026 despite the loss of Chris Brazzell to the NFL Draft.

The details

The Mic'd Up session was recorded during Tennessee's spring practice in March 2026 on the Robert E. White indoor field at the Anderson Training Center in Knoxville. Pope is shown providing detailed instruction and feedback to his receivers, including Matthews, as they run through drills and plays. The video highlights Pope's energetic coaching style and his ability to connect with his players.

  • The Mic'd Up video was recorded during Tennessee's spring practice in March 2026.

The players

Kelsey Pope

Tennessee's pass game coordinator and wide receivers coach, who is entering his fifth season in that role. Pope has helped develop an SEC-best 34 individual 100-yard receiving games and multiple First Team All-SEC recipients since 2021.

Mike Matthews

A wide receiver for the Tennessee Volunteers, who is expected to be a key part of the team's receiving corps in 2026 after the departure of Chris Brazzell to the NFL Draft.

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The takeaway

The Mic'd Up video provides a unique look at the coaching style and player development methods of Kelsey Pope, who has been instrumental in Tennessee's recent success in the passing game. As the Vols look to build on that momentum in 2026, Pope's continued leadership of the wide receivers will be crucial to the team's offensive success.