KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – As the 2023 NFL season kicks off, 28 former Tennessee Volunteers will kick off the year on rosters across the league.
Of these 28 VFLs, 22 will debut on active rosters while five are on practice squads and one is listed on the injured reserve.
Former 2022 Vols Hendon Hooker, Jalin Hyatt, Cedric Tillman, Darnell Wright and Byron Young are primed to sport their new respective team threads.
Hyatt will backup Isaiah Hodgins on the Giants, while Tillman will suit up as the secondary to Elijah Moore on the Browns. On the offensive line, Darnell Wright is expected to start as the Bears right tackle. Shifting to the defense, Byron Young will get his first look as the Rams starting outside linebacker. Quarterback Hendon Hooker will start the year on injured reserve for the Lions as he continues to recover from a torn ACL suffered late last season.
The longest tenured Vol in the league is Titans long snapper Morgan Cox, who enters his 14th season on an active roster. Following him is Falcons running back Cordarelle Patterson, who is set to kick off his 11th year in the league.
Regular-season action gets started tonight, Thursday, Sept. 7, as a handful of former Vols will face off as Kansas City hosts Detroit. Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Cameron Sutton and Emmanuel Moseley of the Lions will travel to face Trey Smith and the defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs inside Arrowhead Stadium at 8:20 p.m. on NBC.
Additional games including former Vols will follow on Sunday, Sept. 10 starting at 1 p.m.