In Joshua Dobbs, Tennessee appears to have a quarterback good enough to lead the Vols to their first SEC Championship Game since 2007.

You could certainly say that Dobbs is the best quarterback in the East Division, although Missouri fans might argue for Maty Mauk. But a big question for Dobbs was his receiving corps — until Friday.

RELATED: Tennessee reinstates potential No. 1 WR

Pig Howard, now a senior, led the club with 54 catches and 618 yards last season from the slot, and he’s back. With 111 career catches in three seasons, Howard ranks 13th all-time at Tennessee. He also has at least one catch in each of last 33 games he has played. So Howard is fine, but I’m not sure he’s a No. 1 guy.

Junior Marquez North, who had 30 catches for 320 yards and four TDs, also returns but is coming off shoulder surgery. The injury forced him to miss the final three games as well as time during spring practice. Injury problems have nagged him during his college career.

Senior Von Pearson was second on the team last year with 38 catches for 393 yards and led with five touchdown grabs despite missing two games due to an ankle injury. But Pearson was suspended indefinitely in April after being named as a suspect in an alleged sexual assault that occurred the day before the Vols’ spring game.

The good news for Pearson is that the Knox County District Attorney General’s Office released a statement last Wednesday that cleared Pearson. And on Friday, he was reinstated to the team. It was actually rather shocking it happened so quickly.

“Mr. Pearson is gratified by (Friday’s decision) and looks forward to continuing his academic and athletic career at the University of Tennessee,” Pearson’s attorney Chris Coffey said in an emailed statement to the media.

By the weekend, Pearson was making one-handed catches in practice. Coach Butch Jones praised him for maintaining endurance and football shape throughout his absence.

Meanwhile, the team was going to count on five-star freshman recruit Preston Williams despite his suffering an ACL tear last fall. However, the NCAA Clearinghouse declared him ineligible after a standardized test score was red-flagged. Williams may or may not join the team in 2015. To get eligible, he would have to retake the test and get a certain score.

Two other Vols receivers, junior Jason Croom and sophomore Josh Smith, are limited coming off serious injuries suffered in 2014. Croom caught 21 passes for 305 yards and four scores last year but had knee surgery that forced him to miss the team’s bowl game. Smith had 10 grabs for 135 yards and a 40-yard TD against Oklahoma, which would be his final game of the season. He had ankle surgery.

Vic Wharton, who had five catches for 64 yards and a score in 2014, transferred to Cal.

Tennessee was short enough on receivers that Butch Jones moved freshman Jauan Jennings from quarterback to receiver prior to fall camp.

When they’re on the field together, North, Pearson and Howard make a terrific trio of receivers.

For all his charms, Dobbs still needs to take big steps forward in his development as a passer. And the team’s offensive line allowed more sacks than any group in the SEC last year. So shedding the uncertainty around Pearson helps. The outlook will improve even more if North, Croom and Smith can get healthy and stay healthy.

Pearson’s return is a huge boost — adding Williams would be gravy at this point. Unfortunately, the NCAA doesn’t move as fast as Tennessee does.