This NFL draft helps Tennessee in a couple of ways

[Volador]

Of course, much has been made of the fact that only one school had more picks through the first 3 rounds than Tennessee. And this staff did that without the benefit of a bunch of 4 and 5 star recruits in this group. Darnell was a 5* who had yet to play like one before this staff arrived. Hooker was a Rivals/ESPN 3* and a 247 4*. A nice recruit, but certainly not considered elite. Tillman was ranked in the 1000s. Hyatt was a borderline 3*/4* who was passed over by his home state schools. And Byron Young came out of nowhere.

Bottom line, this shows that this staff can develop guys and put them in the NFL, whether they are 5*s or unknowns.

But the other way this might help Tennessee is this...Wright and Hooker could have gone pro last year. But they chose to come back and increased their draft stock. I know Tillman could've gone too, but his injury this year hurt his stock. I think the fact that Hooker and Wright both chose to come back and it worked out for both of them shows future players that going pro after their junior season may not be the best option. You can come back for your final year with this staff and they'll develop you further into a higher pick.

Yeah, I graduated in '79 and am still waiting to declare.....

 

[ChrisVFL]

Be nice if some of these bigger sites would give us credit where credit is due. No mention of 5 Vols being drafted. With that being said, will say Tn had the best draft day regardless.
NFL Draft: Big Ten, SEC dominate while Pac-12 struggles - Rivals.com

 

[Woodlawn VOL]

I don't think that association can be made exactly like that. IMO, Levis and AR were both drafted as high as they were because of Josh Allen. Now every team is looking for that guy whose talent might not have been shown fully in college... they're looking past performance and putting more emphasis on measurables.

We will see if that works but I have my doubts. I believe he is more of an anomaly than a new rule.

I agree unless the Colts plan to be patient, I don’t think the Richardson experiment will work. But we shall see. I think he has a long ways to go to be ready for the NFL. GBO

 

[VAVol85]

The difference between AR and Milton is that the storyline for AR seems to be he is "still learning the game". On the other hand the storyline for Milton is likely to be "if he has had 5 years with Harbaugh and Heupel and still doesn't get it, he's not going to". So, Milton cannot go the AR route and get drafted on potential alone. He has to show a command of the offense, long ball accuracy, and short throw effectiveness. If he does, and I really hope he does, then we have a great season and Milton makes a fortune.

 

[HalfullVol]

JMilton isn't the runner AR is - totally different in that comparative.

If JMilton comes close to the passing performance he had in the bowl game then they are worlds apart.

They're both big, strong, athletic dudes with similar size but the functional comparison ends there mostly.

AR had one good passing game against a strong opponent. Yes the opponent was TN.

Go Vols!

 

[VAVol85]

Of course, much has been made of the fact that only one school had more picks through the first 3 rounds than Tennessee. And this staff did that without the benefit of a bunch of 4 and 5 star recruits in this group. Darnell was a 5* who had yet to play like one before this staff arrived. Hooker was a Rivals/ESPN 3* and a 247 4*. A nice recruit, but certainly not considered elite. Tillman was ranked in the 1000s. Hyatt was a borderline 3*/4* who was passed over by his home state schools. And Byron Young came out of nowhere.

Bottom line, this shows that this staff can develop guys and put them in the NFL, whether they are 5*s or unknowns.

But the other way this might help Tennessee is this...Wright and Hooker could have gone pro last year. But they chose to come back and increased their draft stock. I know Tillman could've gone too, but his injury this year hurt his stock. I think the fact that Hooker and Wright both chose to come back and it worked out for both of them shows future players that going pro after their junior season may not be the best option. You can come back for your final year with this staff and they'll develop you further into a higher pick.

Regarding development, I think Pope does a great job with the receivers, Halze/Heupel is great with QBs, Mack is fine with RBs, Ellarbee is excellent with OL, and Garner sets the standard for DLine coaches. I also think our S&C staff seems to be doing a good job with preparing guys for their positions and keeping everyone healthy. We don't seem to constantly struggle with injuries like we did under previous staffs.

I don't know where we are with LBs. It's hard for me to make the case that we are really seeing great strides with either ILB or OLB...maybe this will be the year. And at DB, last year left me completely disappointed with Martinez. I know we had key injuries and people playing out of position. We also added some talent in the off-season. So, hopefully that gets turned around. But at this point, it is hard to see how our secondary offers great development opportunities...although early playing time may be available.

 

[pimo1]

Of course, much has been made of the fact that only one school had more picks through the first 3 rounds than Tennessee. And this staff did that without the benefit of a bunch of 4 and 5 star recruits in this group. Darnell was a 5* who had yet to play like one before this staff arrived. Hooker was a Rivals/ESPN 3* and a 247 4*. A nice recruit, but certainly not considered elite. Tillman was ranked in the 1000s. Hyatt was a borderline 3*/4* who was passed over by his home state schools. And Byron Young came out of nowhere.

Bottom line, this shows that this staff can develop guys and put them in the NFL, whether they are 5*s or unknowns.

But the other way this might help Tennessee is this...Wright and Hooker could have gone pro last year. But they chose to come back and increased their draft stock. I know Tillman could've gone too, but his injury this year hurt his stock. I think the fact that Hooker and Wright both chose to come back and it worked out for both of them shows future players that going pro after their junior season may not be the best option. You can come back for your final year with this staff and they'll develop you further into a higher pick.

We've put 5 WRs in the NFL in the past 4 drafts IF we keep up that pace and they keep[ producing we are back to establishing a pipeline. JJ and Palmer are doing well, Jones and Calloway(UDFA) are contributing and Hyatt and Tillman are in situations where they can produce. I think that's what helps us most of what they produce. Hooker likely won't get a chance for 1-2 years by which Time Milton will be in the league along with Bru and probably Keyton and Thornton. I think how they produce is going to have a big effect. UT will always get people in the NFL and drafted but the higher picks especially at QB are gonna lean on this class producing.,

 

[Hulavol]

Biggest way this draft helped us was to create more disinterest in the zombie oilers. More Vol fans focusing their passion, energy, and merchandise/ticket dollars on the state’s football program: the VOLS.

 

[Adam Sandler]

I’ll have to disagree, I’m not sure another year of age and a torn ACL did improve Hendon’s stock all that much. I think he could’ve went in the third round in 2022

And I disagree with that. I think being able to replicate his stats in back to back years showed he wasn’t a flash in the pan and gave him exposure he probably otherwise would not have gotten. I think his torn acl dropped him from the first round to the third round, but I think if he had gone pro last year and didn’t have the heisman worthy leadership campaign he had this year, he would not have been better than a 5/6th round pick.

 

[woodpusher]

2022 was a weak year for quarterbacks.

 

[LittleVol]

Who is the last QB in the draft with as strong of an arm as Milton?

Id have to say Jacob Eason ?
UGA 2016 UW 2017

 

[NighthawkVol]

Regarding development, I think Pope does a great job with the receivers, Halze/Heupel is great with QBs, Mack is fine with RBs, Ellarbee is excellent with OL, and Garner sets the standard for DLine coaches. I also think our S&C staff seems to be doing a good job with preparing guys for their positions and keeping everyone healthy. We don't seem to constantly struggle with injuries like we did under previous staffs.

I don't know where we are with LBs. It's hard for me to make the case that we are really seeing great strides with either ILB or OLB...maybe this will be the year. And at DB, last year left me completely disappointed with Martinez. I know we had key injuries and people playing out of position. We also added some talent in the off-season. So, hopefully that gets turned around. But at this point, it is hard to see how our secondary offers great development opportunities...although early playing time may be available.

If you don’t think Aaron Beasley has developed/improved at LB, I don’t know what you’re watching. He’s improved more than anyone on the team since Heupel took over. Banks improved some too, although his attitude seems to have held him back on some level.

We’ll know more on Martinez this year. Having every DB hurt all last off-season really impeded development. Word is, Hadden has improved. I expect Charles and Slaughter to improve also. Hopefully, McDonald too, going into his 2nd year as a starter. If the secondary isn’t improved this year, that’s a bad sign re: Martinez.

 

[NighthawkVol]

Id have to say Jacob Eason ?
UGA 2016 UW 2017

As strong as Eason’s arm is, I don’t put it on Milton’s level. The only one I’ve ever seen that compares is Jamarcus Russell.

 

[NighthawkVol]

I’ll have to disagree, I’m not sure another year of age and a torn ACL did improve Hendon’s stock all that much. I think he could’ve went in the third round in 2022

Maybe. The ACL hurt him. If not for that, he’s probably a R1 pick. Early R2 at the latest.

 

[VAVol85]

If you don’t think Aaron Beasley has developed/improved at LB, I don’t know what you’re watching. He’s improved more than anyone on the team since Heupel took over. Banks improved some too, although his attitude seems to have held him back on some level.

We’ll know more on Martinez this year. Having every DB hurt all last off-season really impeded development. Word is, Hadden has improved. I expect Charles and Slaughter to improve also. Hopefully, McDonald too, going into his 2nd year as a starter. If the secondary isn’t improved this year, that’s a bad sign re: Martinez.

I agree Beasley has made great strides. But one guy and a controversial UDFA is pretty thin evidence of success. In fairness, they had to work with the players who remained after the Pruitt debacle. We have some promising new guys and maybe this is the year. But, IMO the LB group is not yet the success story we have seen in other position groups.

 

[NighthawkVol]

I agree Beasley has made great strides. But one guy and a controversial UDFA is pretty thin evidence of success. In fairness, they had to work with the players who remained after the Pruitt debacle. We have some promising new guys and maybe this is the year. But, IMO the LB group is not yet the success story we have seen in other position groups.

I mean...the staff has been there 2 years. You're talking about a position that includes 2 starters. One made incredible strides and the other improved, in spite of being a bit of a problem attitude-wise. And both are converted RBs. I'm not sure what else would've been possible. Aaron Beasley is WAY better than anyone ever envisioned.

 

[TennMan101]

If Anthony Richardson can be drafted #4 overall based on combine-measurables and potential, then I have no doubt Joe Milton will go at least that high.

It blew my mind that AR went that high. If he can, I know JM can!