What might the 2024 NFL draft hold for Tennessee players?
Tennessee just had five different players selected in the first three rounds of last month’s NFL draft. It was the strongest showing in years for a program that historically has been a pipeline to the next level. What Vols might hear their names called at next year’s NFL draft?
SEEMS LIKELY TO POSSIBLY DRAFTED RIGHT NOW
Joe Milton — Senior — 6-foot-5, 242 pounds
I would guess that Milton is starting this season already on the draft boards of most NFL teams looking for a quarterback. That’s simply because of his freakishly tantalizing measurables from his huge frame to his cannon-like arm. Of all the quarterbacks taken in last month’s draft only Stanford’s Tanner McKee (6th round to the Eagles), who was listed at 6-foot-6, 231 pounds, is taller than Milton’s listed height, and Milton weighs more.
Milton’s physical tools alone are probably enough to ensure that at the least, some team takes a flyer on him at some point in the draft. However, if he can flourish as Hendon Hooker’s replacement in an offense that is going to put up numbers, Milton will have a real shot to improve his draft stock and hear his name called early.
Everyone knows Milton can throw the ball a mile. As a starter this season he’ll have to prove that he can take care of the football, hit open receivers down the field and throw with touch and accuracy in the intermediate game.
Bru McCoy — Senior — 6-foot-3, 231 pounds
McCoy should be a key element of the passing game as the most experienced and productive returnee at a position that’s a bit of a question mark heading into the year.
McCoy caught 52 passes for 667 yards and four touchdowns last season after transferring in from USC. He should be an asset for Milton as he settles back into the starter’s role under center.
McCoy’s got a big body and he knows how to use it to win battles for contested balls down the field. History has shown us that playing in this offense receivers are going to have a chance to put up numbers.
In terms of where his draft stock ends up, that’s probably going to be hugely impacted by what kind of 40-time he runs for scouts. With his size and the numbers he’s going to put up though, McCoy will have a chance to play himself into a pick for certain.
Omari Thomas — Senior — 6-foot—320 pounds
The ‘Big O’ went from an up-and-down player as a sophomore to being probably Tennessee’s most consistent interior lineman in 2022. He started all 13 games at defensive tackle last fall and was an anchor in the middle of what was a pretty solid Tennessee run defense.
Thomas isn’t going to be a wrecking ball in the interior of someone’s defensive line at the next level. Even in what was considered a productive year from him in 2022 he had just 2.0 sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss.
So while Thomas isn’t going to remind anyone of Aaron Donald, he is going to have a chance to be one of those guys in the NFL whose job it is to control one or two gaps in a defense’s scheme.
Thomas has gotten better every year and has certainly seemed to benefit from Rodney Garner joining the staff.
Cooper Mays — Senior — 6-foot-3, 305 pounds
Mays, going back to his high school days, has dealt with questions about his size. He’s attacked the strength and conditioning program during his time at Tennessee and those would no longer seem to be valid concerns.
Minnesota’s John Michael-Schmitz (6-foot-4, 301 pounds, 2nd round to the Giants in 2023) and Penn State’s Juice Scruggs (6-foot-3, 301 pounds, 2nd round to the Texans) were the second and third centers off the board in last month’s NFL Draft and they’re both very comparable in size to where Tennessee has Mays listed.
Mays is going to leave Knoxville as a three year starter who has been through the wars in the SEC during that time. He draws major praise for his football IQ from position coach Glen Elarbee and brings the kinds of intangibles to the position that don’t show up on a stop watch.
Donte Thornton Jr. — Junior — 6-foot-5, 205 pounds
There’s obviously some speculation involved here, after all, Thornton has yet to play a game in Knoxville. However, given his obvious physical gifts and what we’ve seen from receivers in Heupel’s system, it’s probably not outlandish to think that Thornton could be a one-and-done guy.
Thornton spent a good chunk of the spring working at the slot position, which has been a money-making spot in this offense. Both Cedric Tillman and Jalin Hyatt excelled in that role in the last two years, each producing a 1,000 yard season.
Thornton’s long, lanky frame stands out on the practice field, and he’s got the speed to threaten to take the top off of a defense.
He didn’t tear it up or anything in two seasons at Oregon, making 26 catches for 541 yards with three touchdowns in two years, but that hasn’t stopped the speculation that he’s about to have a big year at Tennessee.
Thornton has two years of eligibility left, but if he just spends one year in Knoxville that will probably have been a good thing for both him and the Vols.
Tyler Baron — Senior — 6-foot-5, 260 pounds
Baron has the measurables to put him on NFL Draft boards as an edge guy who can slide inside at times. Baron’s versatility to slide inside in passing situations and be at least a part-time interior guy is probably one of his best traits right now as far as the next level is concerned.
Baron is going to leave Tennessee as a four year contributor in the SEC, but his tape—at least to this point—isn’t going to show a wildly disruptive player. He’s got just 4.5 sacks in three years in which he’s appeared in 36 games.
He’s definitely going to have a chance to get himself drafted, and at worst sign as a free agent. If he wants to cement himself as a mid-to-late round pick though he likely needs to put some dynamic plays on tape this fall. This is most certainly a contract year for Baron.
MAYBE?
Jaylen Wright — Junior — 5-foot-11, 205 pounds
Wright isn’t a lock to leave after this season by any means, but it would make sense for him to at least test the draft waters if he has a productive year simply because of how running backs are valued at the next level. If he can put himself in position to get drafted it would make sense to leave before accumulating more college carries and wear and tear.
Wright led the Vols in both yards (875) and yards per carry (6.0 ypc) last fall. He’s got the speed to be a big play guy, as he showed in the season finale against Vanderbilt with touchdown runs of 50 and 83 yards.
If Wright has a future at the next level it will almost certainly involve some third down duties. He’ll need to get more chances to prove that he can be a productive receiver. Wright had just two catches last season but that seemed to be more about design than any shortcomings in his skill set.
Wright will likely blow up some stop watches in the pre-draft process, but his tape will need to show that he can run with physicality, pick up the blitz, and catch the ball out of the backfield.
Aaron Beasley — Senior — 6-foot-1, 225 pounds
Beasley has turned himself into a productive SEC linebacker, but anyone can see that he’s going to battle questions about his size during the pre-draft process.
He’s listed at 6-foot-1, 225 pounds and even that might be a little generous. That hasn’t stopped him from becoming one of the most productive linebackers in the SEC though. He led Tennessee with 76 tackles in 2022, also leading the defense with 13 TFLs.
As Beasley has settled in at linebacker in the last two years and gotten more comfortable he’s played with more of an instinctive feel for the position which has really allowed his sideline-to-sideline speed to show up.
His production in the toughest league in college football will get him noticed, but it’s not going to make him any bigger. Tough to say right now if he’ll get drafted but he’ll absolutely get a chance to make a team next summer.
Jabari Small — Senior — 5-foot-11, 213 pounds
Small is going to have to answer questions about both his size and his durability after battling injuries and undergoing offseason surgeries at various points in his career.
When healthy he’s shown that he can be a productive SEC tailback.
In three seasons Small has rushed for 1,647 yards averaging 5.1 yards per carry.
Keenan Pili — Senior — 6-foot-3, 238 pounds
This one is another total wild card. We have no idea how Pili is going to adjust to life in the SEC, but he is entering the summer as a likely starter at inside linebacker. He also is going to check plenty of NFL-boxes from the ‘height/weight’ department.
The question for Pili, who recorded 62 tackles last year at BYU, is going to be can he play fast enough to be productive in this league.
A two-time captain at BYU, Pili looks the part of an SEC linebacker and Tennessee will need him to play the part between the sidelines. Can he answer the bell and take advantage of the opportunity.
Who knows? These guys will check some boxes, but they will definitely need some tape this fall.
Brandon Turnage
Dee Wiliams
Kamal Hadden
Gabe Jeudy-Lally
Tamarion McDonald
Wesley Walker
Jeremiah Crawford
Gerald Mincey
John Campbell Jr.
Jacob Warren
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