The Tennessee Volunteers were poised to have one of the top WR units in the SEC. Thursday's news that All-SEC candidate Da'Rick Rogers has been suspended indefinitely changes the Vols' outlook drastically.

There are other good WRs on the roster, but several will have to step up in Rogers' absence.

“There’s not one member of the entire organization that we’re not prepared to go play without," coach Derek Dooley said after the Vols practice on Thursday. "Despite the news, and we always hate it when one of our players gets suspended, our focus is on the guys here and our opponent coming up next.”

Here are the WRs the Vols need to have step up with Rogers out:

1. Justin Hunter

The 6-foot-4, 200-pound Hunter was off to a hot start in 2011 before a torn ACL ended his seaoson in Week 3. He led the SEC with 17 catches for 314 yards before the injury. Rogers stepped up in his place, and now Hunter must do the same for him. His potential is off the charts, as evidenced by his 22.4 yards-per-reception career average, but he must prove he can stay healthy for an entire season.

2. Cordarrelle Patterson

Patterson, the No. 1 junior college prospect in the 2012 class according to 247Sports.com, came to Tennessee for the opportunity to play with Rogers and Hunter. Now he must step into an even larger-than-expected role. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound Patterson was a junior college All-American, and he set more than 12 school records at Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College. He must now translate that success into the SEC.

Here are some of his highlights from junior college via Rivals.com:


3. Zach Rogers

Rogers, a senior, is by far the most experienced WR on the roster with 36 games under his belt. A former track star in high school, he has the speed to contribute in the SEC, but injuries and drops have plagued his three-year career. Will 2012 be the year he finally steps up? He has averaged less than one reception per game in his career (31 catches for 415 yards).

4. Cody Blanc

Blanc, along with Zach Rogers, is listed as part of the second unit on the Vols' official depth chart for their opener against North Carolina State on Aug. 31. He's a true freshman, but he enrolled in January, meaning he's had time to learn the offense. Coaches like his speed (4.5 40-yard dash) and his size (6-foot-3, 205 pounds) enough to put him in immediately.

5. The other freshmen -- Drae Bowles/Alton Howard/Jason Croom

All three were consensus four-star recruits who enrolled over the summer. Bowles is the only one currently healthy. Croom is day-to-day with a hamstring injury, and Howard is out at least a couple more weeks with a broken foot. Somebody in this group will need to emerge, especially if Rogers doesn't return from the suspension.

For more up-to-the minute news and analysis from SEC bloggers Larry Hartstein and Daniel Lewis, follow @CBSSportsSEC.