From Ontario to Tennessee, 'Air Canada' ready to take flight for Vols

When Joshua Palmer was in the seventh or eighth grade, his family joked about him leaving his home in Ontario to live with his aunt in Orlando to pursue a potential future in basketball.

At the time, Palmer scoffed at the thought. He didn’t want to leave home, and certainly wasn’t sure basketball was his sport of choice.

But two years later, the Canadian native did in fact move to the United States to chase a dream: Getting a college scholarship to play football at the highest level.

“At first it wasn’t really a real option. It was mostly a joke. Small talk,” Tennessee’s 2017 receiver signee said.

“But then when I was ready to actually move to the States for football, I knew this would be a serious option. I needed the exposure. The competition. Nobody really recruits in Canada for football.

"South Florida is a real powerhouse when it comes to football, so when I moved down there I knew that if moved down there not only would I have a chance to go to college but I’d also get better on the practice field.”

Palmer, who graduates from South Florida powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas on Monday, “took a chance” and moved in with his aunt in Fort Lauderdale.

It was an adjustment at first, but the 6-foot-2, 195-pound wideout’s gamble paid off, and Palmer's journey is just getting started.

Palmer’s recruitment exploded after a solid senior season for the Class 7A state champs. He recorded 32 receptions for 506 yards and eight touchdowns, turning down scholarships from Michigan, UCLA, Penn State and others in favor of Tennessee.

As Palmer prepares to move again soon for college, his decision to attend St. Thomas Aquinas was definitely the right one, he reflected.

“When I first found out about the school it was just another option because I was going to move down to the States my junior year anyways,” he said. “I just didn’t know where exactly. But when I found out about this school, I didn’t know about the legacy of how many guys they’d sent to college and the league. I didn’t know that until I really moved down here and started to find out more and more about the school. I knew the academics were good, but it was a real eye-opener.”

Since National Signing Day, Palmer has been working hard to ready himself for the college transition. He’s been using Rock Gullicksen’s weight-training guide and worked with his high school receivers coach Glen Holt on route running, technique drills and the JUGGS machine.

Considering Palmer flipped to Tennessee from Syracuse late in the process, he never really developed a long relationship with former Vols wideout coach Zach Azzanni. Tennessee’s signee certainly liked and respected “Coach Z” but that wasn’t why he picked Rocky Top in the end.

Palmer, who was drawn to the school’s strong business program, was glad that Kevin Beard ultimately got the job, though. The two had crossed paths two years ago when Palmer was playing on the South Florida Express 7-on-7 team.

“He came out and watched us play. That’s when I really first met him,” Palmer said.

“When the old wide receivers coach went to the NFL and they were looking for a new coach I was wondering if coach Beard would be one of the options, so when he got the job I wasn’t really upset that my wide receivers coach left because I knew that I was getting somebody from South Florida. That was a good transition mentally. I’ve been in contact with him a lot. We talk on the phone a lot. It’s all good.”

Tennessee’s receiving corp is lead by Jauan Jennings, and while the Vols expect sophomore leaps from guys like Marquez Callaway, Brandon Johnson and Tyler Byrd, the opportunity is there for Palmer to come in an earn real playing time in 2017.

“I’ve seen and read that a lot in reports,” he said. “Whenever I speak to coach Beard we usually talk about receiver tips on how to get better, not really about the depth chart. But I know that if I can go up there and do what I’m supposed to do I can really compete for a rotational (spot). But that’s up to me to determine what my place is depth chart really stands.”

CATCHING UP WITH JOSHUA PALMER...

Favorite NFL receiver?

"AJ Green. Definitely. Calvin Johnson, too. He’s retired now, but I always loved how he and Green played. Now, Josh Malone is also with the Bengals. So I’ll have two of my favorite receivers to watch side-by-side. That’ll be fun.

Do you have any pregame superstition or routines?

“Not really. I usually just listen to slow rap songs. I’m not like most guys that need obnoxious music, or very loud tempo music before the games because I feel like it gets you too hyped up. I’m more of a chill kind of guy. More calm and collected.

What's the funniest thing Butch Jones ever said to you?

"So when we were in the locker room and he was talking about Tennessee’s wardrobe and all the gear that he gets, he said if he’s walking in the mall and sees anything Jordan, Nike or LeBron, he’s going to pick it up and get a Tennessee logo on it. I just laughed."

Three people you'd like to have dinner with?

“Terry Crews, comedian Kevin Hart and Lil Uzi Vert. He just seems like an interesting guy to meet. He just always looks and talks to positive.”

Favorite TV show?

“I like anime (shows) and Game of Thrones.