Gridiron Heroics partners with Draft Scout to give each school’s Top 5 NFL Draft prospects in the SEC. Welcome to a list of Tennessee’s Top 5 NFL Draft prospects, as seen by Draft Scout.
Each week brings us closer and closer to one of the most anticipated days on the sports calendar — the NFL Draft. This year’s draft will be held in Kansas City, Mo. from April 27-29.
Our series will run beginning Oct. 31 and running for five consecutive days, with three schools running per day in alphabetical order. A master conference list of the SEC’s Top 20 NFL draft prospects will wrap things up on Friday, Nov. 4. Please check the team links below frequently so you can check out the other schools’ top prospects as the week progresses.
SEC TOP 25 NFL PROSPECTS FOR 2023: Overall SEC Top Prospect List
SEC EAST PROSPECTS FOR 2023: Florida | Georgia | Kentucky | Mizzou | South Carolina | Tennessee | Vanderbilt
SEC WEST PROSPECTS FOR 2023: Alabama | Arkansas | Auburn | LSU | Mississippi State | Ole Miss | Texas A&M
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So we all know that not every team in the country has five surefire draft picks on it. Some programs do, especially in some of the more elite conferences, but the vast majority don’t have that many top-flight prospects. But, we also know that the definition “top-flight” doesn’t always pan out, and at the same time that strong undrafted free agent everybody forgot? He ends up making an NFL and flourishing.
Below is a look at Tennessee’s Top 5 Draft Prospects, and how they project in the eyes of Draft Scout. For now, we’ll go strictly with seniors, as no underclassmen have been allowed to declare earlier yet, though when they do? We’ll update the lists below.
Tennessee’s TOP 5 NFL DRAFT PROSPECTS
NO. 1 PROSPECT
NAME: Hendon Hooker– : (Quarterback)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJECTION: 1st round
CAREER STATISTICS: In his second season at Tennessee, Hooker has piled up 2,338 yards along with 21 tds and just 1 int. Many people don’t know this, but addition to playing football in high school, he was actually a solid basketball player too.
THE TRUTH: Hooker has been nothing short of spectacular. He will be picked based on his skill sets. He is a true dual threat quarterback with a very strong arm and football I.Q. He runs a 4.52 forty- time, and has fit nicely in Josh Heupel’s offense since transferring from Virginia Tech in 2021. Look for him to be drafted by a team with a spread offense that uses 4-5 wide sets.
NO. 2 PROSPECT
NAME:Cedric Tillman (Wide Receiver)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJECTION: 2nd round
CAREER STATISTICS: In his graduate year at Tennessee, Tillman has piled up 268 yards on 21 catches and 1 td. Fun fact for all you 90’s NFL fans, Tillman’s father (also named Cedric) played 4 years in the NFL with the Denver Broncos (1992-1994) and Jacksonville Jaguars (1995). To say football runs deep in their Tillman household would be an understatement.
THE TRUTH: Tillman is a vertical, down the field type of receiver with the ability to play the perimeter and catch the ball inside. His lone touchdown this year came on a 60-yard pass from Hendon Hooker who is the #1 top NFL draft prospect for the VOLS. Besides playing football, Tillman graduated in 2021 with an undergraduate degree in communications. Perhaps after his football career, he may become the next great NFL broadcaster.
NO. 3 PROSPECT
NAME: Jeremy Banks (OLB)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJECTION: 4th round
CAREER STATISTICS: This season, Banks was named a preseason All-SEC selection in 2022 after coming off a nation leading 128 tackles in 2021. Banks was also named a 2022 Butkus Award Preseason candidate, and named to the 2023 Senior Bowl watch list. At 6’1″, 224 lbs, Banks is an excellent tackler, while wrapping up ball carriers on the perimeter. He is also very quick and can move side-side. He ran the forty-time in 4.62 seconds. Look for Banks to be used in the NFL on special teams before gradually moving him in as a speedy EDGE rusher.
THE TRUTH: Banks is a sleeper to watch in this draft. He may not be the biggest guy, but he is very quick and can tackle on both perimeters. He is currently a redshirt senior and is consider to be one of the team’s best tacklers. He is also a leader off the field as he helps out or as the football team name suggests, “Volunteers” in Tennessee community affairs.
NO. 4 PROSPECT
NAME: Byron Young: (OLB)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJECTION: 5th-6th rounds
CAREER STATISTICS: Young is one of the premier pass rushers in the SEC. He made his debut in 2021 after playing one-year of JUCO College in Georgia where he was one of the top prospects in the country. The Georgetown South Carolina native has played in 19 games with 16 starts. He has compiled 66 tackles (17 for a loss), along with 10.5 sacks and 21 QB hurries.
THE TRUTH: Scouts say that Young is projected to go somewhere between the 5th-6th rounds. He could be a steal for choosing to go the JUCO route after high school before transferring to a major University like Tennessee. It has landed him to where he is today.
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NO. 5 PROSPECT
NAME: Darnell Wright: (OT)
DRAFTSCOUT PROJECTION: 7th-HPFA
CAREER STATISTICS: Projected to be a solid pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Wright has played in 42 games and has started 37 of them. He is a very durable lineman in his fourth season with the Vols. He was a consensus five start recruit in the class of 2019. The Big Offensive Lineman has played for former Vols head coach Jeremy Pruitt and remained with the program under current head coach Josh Heupel.
THE TRUTH: Wright is a massive blocker at 6’5″, 335 pounds. He can play 3-positions on the o-line (left tackle, right tackle, and guard). He has started since his freshman year and has blossomed into a nice 4-year starter at tackle. Look for Wright to keep gaining national exposure as the Vols make their push to the CFP.
3 Comments
Feeling like ‘97
Go Vols!!!
It will be interesting to see when these guys are picked. I’ll keep them on my radar for fantasy. Good article!