London Vol
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THE DRAFT
Have you ever waited a long while for a bus and then suddenly four of them turn up all at once? Well, if you have, then you would have known what it felt like to be waiting for the Tennessee draftees to get their names called in the 2023 NFL Draft. And then four players were drafted in the space of only ten places. But the fact that they did get their names called, confirmed how much the Tennessee Vols have progressed in the last two years and that the football world has been watching them and taking notice.
The best way that I can evaluate whether this was a success or not, is by the fact that it is the first time since 2007 that the Tennessee Vols had 5 players called in the first 3 rounds. Here are my thoughts on each of the draftees:
With the 10th Pick of the 2023 Draft the Chicago Bears select Darnell Wright Tennessee
Congratulations to Darnell, the highest drafted Volunteer since Eric Berry in 2010. This is well deserved, not just because his standard of play (for example Will Anderson of Alabama, the No 3 pick, never got a sniff of Hendon Hooker at Knoxville last season), but because he displayed great loyalty to The Vols during all the dysfunctionality that was the Jeremy Pruitt era. Chicago is not a bad place to go to, as Soldier Field is steeped in history of Linemen excelling. Carry the Tennessee torch, Darnell.
With the 68th Pick of the 2023 Draft the Detroit Lions select Hendon Hooker Tennessee
I did not realise at the time, how expensive last season’s Hendon Hooker’s ACL tear at South Carolina was. 1) it removed any chance of a comeback for the Vols in the game, thus sinking their playoff hopes 2) it cost Hendon a trip to New York as a Heisman finalist and possibly the trophy itself 3) it created enough concern for NFL teams draft evaluators about his playing time in his rookie year as well as his long-term fitness prognosis. So, he fell all the way down into the 3rd Round. Stop the pity right here, this guy deals with adversity as a second nature, first things didn’t work out at Virginia Tech, so he transferred out, then Joe Milton was recruited as the future Tennessee quarterback. Now the football world has questioned him because of the unfortunate injury. You may not see Hendon much in 2023 but Detroit was a great spot to land for Hooker, as this is not the same Detroit of the last 20 odd years and Jared Goff is replaceable going forward, so expect another chapter in the Hendon Hooker story, labelled success.
With the 73rd Pick of the 2023 Draft the New York Giants select Jalin Hyatt Tennessee
Each year the draft comes up with some absolute head scratchers and this year’s 1st prize is that Jalin Hyatt lasted until the 73rd pick (last year it was Trey Smith in the 6th round). Hyatt won the Biletnikoff award as the best Wide Receiver of the year; in fact, he was so far clear of the rest of his opponents that you started to think that it was a Josh Heupel designed play. He also has blazing speed and he more than proved himself as an elite Wide receiver with that historic 5 touchdown performance against Alabama. Finally, he also has no “red flags”, such as off-field issues or an existing injury. Yet, he was the 9th, yes, that is not a typo and to prove it I will spell it, “ninth” Wide Receiver chosen.
I know it is not the number or even the round that you get drafted in that counts, but the team that drafts you. I hope Hyatt makes all those who passed on him pay in the future.
With the 74th Pick of the 2023 Draft the Cleveland Browns select Cedric Tillman Tennessee
Any player who was recruited with a ranking of 1,677 and goes in the 3rd round of the draft should be the poster boy for “diamonds in the rough”. Even for allowing this, I think Tillman would have been drafted much higher last year after his breakout season and before his injury plagued season this year. If he can recover fully, I think he will have a good pro-career contesting ‘jump’ balls and being a danger in the end zone. Like all receivers, it is important to have a Quarterback who can find you and it will be very interesting to see if Deshaun Watson can re-discover his old form after his off-field issues, because Tillman’s time at Cleveland will be inextricably linked to Watson.
With the 77th Pick of the 2023 Draft the Los Angeles Rams select Byron Young Tennessee
Whilst Tillman is the poster boy for a low ranking, Young is a great example how football can change your life. I am sure you are aware of the back story where he worked in a convenience store, a fastfood outlet and a gas station. Before this his prep school was shut and then his Junior College cancelled the season due to the pandemic. Well now he is playing on Sundays, where he can make his mark, especially as next to him on the Defensive Line is one Allan Donald who will be drawing double or even treble blocking, and this will leave Young to do what he is paid to do and that is to get to the Quarterback.
I also wish all the best to Princeton Fant (Dallas), Jerome Carvin (Kansas City) and Jeremy Banks (Tampa Bay) who have all signed as unrestricted free agents.
I admit I thought that some of the above would have drafted quite a bit earlier but on reflection it was a really good draft for Tennessee and will give the Vols much ammunition to be used on the recruiting trail.
GO VOLS
Have you ever waited a long while for a bus and then suddenly four of them turn up all at once? Well, if you have, then you would have known what it felt like to be waiting for the Tennessee draftees to get their names called in the 2023 NFL Draft. And then four players were drafted in the space of only ten places. But the fact that they did get their names called, confirmed how much the Tennessee Vols have progressed in the last two years and that the football world has been watching them and taking notice.
The best way that I can evaluate whether this was a success or not, is by the fact that it is the first time since 2007 that the Tennessee Vols had 5 players called in the first 3 rounds. Here are my thoughts on each of the draftees:
With the 10th Pick of the 2023 Draft the Chicago Bears select Darnell Wright Tennessee
Congratulations to Darnell, the highest drafted Volunteer since Eric Berry in 2010. This is well deserved, not just because his standard of play (for example Will Anderson of Alabama, the No 3 pick, never got a sniff of Hendon Hooker at Knoxville last season), but because he displayed great loyalty to The Vols during all the dysfunctionality that was the Jeremy Pruitt era. Chicago is not a bad place to go to, as Soldier Field is steeped in history of Linemen excelling. Carry the Tennessee torch, Darnell.
With the 68th Pick of the 2023 Draft the Detroit Lions select Hendon Hooker Tennessee
I did not realise at the time, how expensive last season’s Hendon Hooker’s ACL tear at South Carolina was. 1) it removed any chance of a comeback for the Vols in the game, thus sinking their playoff hopes 2) it cost Hendon a trip to New York as a Heisman finalist and possibly the trophy itself 3) it created enough concern for NFL teams draft evaluators about his playing time in his rookie year as well as his long-term fitness prognosis. So, he fell all the way down into the 3rd Round. Stop the pity right here, this guy deals with adversity as a second nature, first things didn’t work out at Virginia Tech, so he transferred out, then Joe Milton was recruited as the future Tennessee quarterback. Now the football world has questioned him because of the unfortunate injury. You may not see Hendon much in 2023 but Detroit was a great spot to land for Hooker, as this is not the same Detroit of the last 20 odd years and Jared Goff is replaceable going forward, so expect another chapter in the Hendon Hooker story, labelled success.
With the 73rd Pick of the 2023 Draft the New York Giants select Jalin Hyatt Tennessee
Each year the draft comes up with some absolute head scratchers and this year’s 1st prize is that Jalin Hyatt lasted until the 73rd pick (last year it was Trey Smith in the 6th round). Hyatt won the Biletnikoff award as the best Wide Receiver of the year; in fact, he was so far clear of the rest of his opponents that you started to think that it was a Josh Heupel designed play. He also has blazing speed and he more than proved himself as an elite Wide receiver with that historic 5 touchdown performance against Alabama. Finally, he also has no “red flags”, such as off-field issues or an existing injury. Yet, he was the 9th, yes, that is not a typo and to prove it I will spell it, “ninth” Wide Receiver chosen.
I know it is not the number or even the round that you get drafted in that counts, but the team that drafts you. I hope Hyatt makes all those who passed on him pay in the future.
With the 74th Pick of the 2023 Draft the Cleveland Browns select Cedric Tillman Tennessee
Any player who was recruited with a ranking of 1,677 and goes in the 3rd round of the draft should be the poster boy for “diamonds in the rough”. Even for allowing this, I think Tillman would have been drafted much higher last year after his breakout season and before his injury plagued season this year. If he can recover fully, I think he will have a good pro-career contesting ‘jump’ balls and being a danger in the end zone. Like all receivers, it is important to have a Quarterback who can find you and it will be very interesting to see if Deshaun Watson can re-discover his old form after his off-field issues, because Tillman’s time at Cleveland will be inextricably linked to Watson.
With the 77th Pick of the 2023 Draft the Los Angeles Rams select Byron Young Tennessee
Whilst Tillman is the poster boy for a low ranking, Young is a great example how football can change your life. I am sure you are aware of the back story where he worked in a convenience store, a fastfood outlet and a gas station. Before this his prep school was shut and then his Junior College cancelled the season due to the pandemic. Well now he is playing on Sundays, where he can make his mark, especially as next to him on the Defensive Line is one Allan Donald who will be drawing double or even treble blocking, and this will leave Young to do what he is paid to do and that is to get to the Quarterback.
I also wish all the best to Princeton Fant (Dallas), Jerome Carvin (Kansas City) and Jeremy Banks (Tampa Bay) who have all signed as unrestricted free agents.
I admit I thought that some of the above would have drafted quite a bit earlier but on reflection it was a really good draft for Tennessee and will give the Vols much ammunition to be used on the recruiting trail.
GO VOLS
