Rocky Top Well Represented Among Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame Achievement Awards Honorees

Rocky Top Well Represented Among Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame Achievement Awards Honorees

Posted on May 6, 2023

The Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame on Friday announced the recipients of its 2023 Achievement Awards, with a significant multi-sport honors haul for the Big Orange.

Tennessee Chancellor Donde Plowman, Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Danny White and Football Head Coach Josh Heupel were collectively named Tennesseans of the Year.

Football quarterback Hendon Hooker earned Male Amateur Athlete of the Year, presented by the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA).

And the 2022 Tennessee baseball team was honored as the Male Amateur Team of the Year.

The honors will be formally presented as part of the Hall’s 2023 Banquet, presented by the Tennessee Titans, Saturday, July 22, at the Omni Nashville Downtown. Tickets can be ordered at www.tshf.net. The Class of 2023 includes UT football All-Americans Eric Berry and John Henderson, as well as Lady Vols track & field star and Olympic gold medalist Tianna Madison. 

In selecting its Tennesseans of the Year, the Hall identified Plowman’s targeting and hiring of White, and White’s subsequent appointment of Heupel early in 2021 as the catalysts to a rapid gridiron resurgence on Rocky Top.

Inheriting a program that was 3-7 prior to his arrival, the Vols have produced an 18-8 record in two seasons under Heupel, including the program’s first 11-win campaign in over two decades last fall that culminated with a victory over ACC champion Clemson in the Capital One Orange Bowl. The remarkable regular season saw Tennessee top Florida and LSU before an epic triumph over Alabama on the Third Saturday in October with over 11.6 million viewers tuning in. Heupel was named 2022 Associated Press Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year for his efforts.

Under the trio’s watch, Rocky Top became the epicenter of the sport as ESPN’s popular College GameDay originated twice on the UT campus in the fall of 2022. Meanwhile, an undefeated home season and Neyland Stadium’s pageantry were on full display in drawing six consecutive sellouts and a total of 703,727 fans for an average of 100,532—both of which ranked in the top-five nationally.

Tennessee’s recent football success has been complemented by comprehensive excellence across all sports on campus. In its first full academic year under White’s leadership (2021-22), UT finished 13th in the LEARFIELD Directors’ Cup standings and secured its first-ever SEC Overall All-Sports Trophy. Tennessee finished first in the SEC Men’s All-Sports standings while earning a second-place finish in the SEC Women’s All-Sports standings.

Hooker was the leader of the nation’s No. 1 offense and put together arguably the greatest quarterback season in program history, earning SEC Offensive Player of the Year honors and finishing fifth in the voting for the Heisman Trophy. A finalist for the Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Award, Manning Award and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, Hooker generated 3,565 yards of total offense and broke his own school record for single-season completion percentage at a 69.6 clip. He led the SEC in four different categories and ranked second in the nation in quarterback rating at 175.5. Last week, Hooker was selected in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions, becoming Tennessee’s highest drafted quarterback since No. 1 pick Peyton Manning in 1998. 

The Male Amateur Team of the Year, Tennessee baseball, climbed to new heights in 2022, setting a program record with 57 victories en route to winning SEC Regular Season and SEC Tournament titles. The Volunteers achieved the program’s first No. 1 national ranking in any poll in week six of the season before settling in as the unanimous top-ranked team in week seven. UT was ranked No. 1 in at least one poll during 12 weeks of the season and spent 10 weeks as the nation’s unanimous top-ranked team.

Tennessee became the first NCAA Division I team since at least 1972 to lead the country in both home runs and ERA. The Vols’ 158 long balls shattered the previous program record of 107 while ranking fourth in NCAA Division I history, including the most by any team in the BBCOR bat era (since 2011). 

Head coach Tony Vitello was named the Perfect Game National Coach of the Year for the second season in a row and was also tabbed as the Southeast Region Coach of the Year by the ABCA. The Vols set a program record with nine players earning postseason All-America honors, including four first-team selections, which was also a school record. Tennessee had four players earn Freshman All-America honors, as well.

Sophomore pitcher Chase Dollander racked up the postseason honors following a dominant year on the mound, becoming the first UT player to be named SEC Pitcher of the Year and earn consensus first-team All-America honors since Luke Hochevar in 2005. Freshman right-hander Chase Burns also brought home national acclaim after being named the NCBWA Freshman National Pitcher of the Year and the Collegiate Baseball Co-Freshman National Player of the Year, while Sunday-starter Drew Beam was the SEC Freshman of the Year.

The Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame also annually presents a Pat Summitt Lifetime Achievement Award in honor of the iconic Lady Vols basketball coach who led Tennessee to eight national championships. This year’s recipient is professional wrestling legend and Memphis native Jerry “The King” Lawler.

About the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame
Established in 1966, the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, sponsored by the Tennessee Lottery, enshrines and honors athletes, teams, coaches, sportswriters and sports administrators who have impacted the history of Tennessee sports. The Hall serves as a platform to connect athletes, coaches, sports fans, and supporters by acknowledging life achievements implemented through sports. The Hall celebrates athletes of all forms from all across the state. Additionally, the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame aspires to educate youth about the importance of healthy habits and the positive impact they have on lifestyle choices. The Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame is located at 501 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203. For more information, visit www.tshf.net.

-UT Athletics

UT Brass at Orange Bowl / Credit: UT Athletics
Dollywood’s Splash Country Set to Open This Month with Several New Offerings

Dollywood’s Splash Country Set to Open This Month with Several New Offerings

Posted on May 5, 2023

Summer days are back and there is no better way to spend the hotter, longer days than at Dollywood’s Splash Country. East Tennessee’s friendliest water park will open for its 23rd season on Saturday, May 13, with more shade, more food and more opportunities to make a splash all summer long.

During the offseason, Dollywood’s Splash Country was able to increase the amount of available shaded seating and food offerings. Guests also can enjoy additional food trucks in the park, and a brand-new food location, Splash and Dash, serves up freshly-fried mini donuts which can be enjoyed underneath one of the multiple new shade structures surrounding the Mountain Waves wave pool.

“At Dollywood’s Splash Country we know the park experience is more than just our world-class slides and attractions,” explained Jordan Leach, Splash Country’s Director of Operations. “Families come here to experience both thrills and chills. To ensure we provided ample comfort and relaxation opportunities for our guests, we added multiple shade structures to our main lounge area, brought in additional food trucks for the 2023 season, and an additional venue.”

Known as “the Smokies’ Most-Trusted Water Park,” Dollywood’s Splash Country always maintains safety as its top priority. In 2022, Splash Country was honored with Ellis and Associates’ Platinum International Safety Award for “achieving the highest quality of lifeguard professionalism and operational standards.” An example of Splash Country’s dedication to water safety is the 13th annual Water Safety Day, set for June 22. Families can learn how to make a splash with confidence with a full day of learning that kicks off with the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson. Children of all ages are invited to participate in gaining life-saving knowledge.

“Water safety is something we obviously take very seriously,” said Lauren Lowery, Operations Manager. “ To be recognized by Ellis and Associates’ at the Platinum level is something that we take immense pride in. All of our lifeguards go through extensive training and licensures to ensure that our guests will be well taken care of at all times.”

Beyond a safe environment full of immersive theming, guests can experience live entertainment during their visits to the water park. This season sees the return of Too Hot Tuesdays (every Tuesday from 5/30 – 6/27 and 7/11 – 8/1),  Too Cool Thursdays (every Thursday from 6/1 – 8/3), and Splash Bash LIVE (every Saturday from 6/17 – 8/5). All of these fan favorite events will return for the 2023 season.

Now is the best time for guests to secure a summer of fun in the sun thanks to a limited-time offer on a Dollywood’s Splash Country Summer Splash Pass. Now through June 4, guests can purchase a Summer Splash Pass for just $33+tax per month! The pass provides admission to Dollywood’s Splash Country all season plus a free ticket to share with a friend! For more details including validity details, please visit www.dollywood.com/splashpass.

Dollywood’s Splash Country opens the weekend of May 13-14. Daily operation begins Saturday, May 20, and continues through Aug. 6. The park shifts to a primarily weekend-only schedule through Sep. 10. For more information about Dollywood’s Splash Country or any of The Dollywood Company properties, please visit www.dollywood.com or call 1-800-DOLLYWOOD.

Dollywood’s Splash Country Set to Open This Month with Several New Offerings

Posted on May 5, 2023

Summer days are back and there is no better way to spend the hotter, longer days than at Dollywood’s Splash Country. East Tennessee’s friendliest water park will open for its 23rd season on Saturday, May 13, with more shade, more food and more opportunities to make a splash all summer long.

During the offseason, Dollywood’s Splash Country was able to increase the amount of available shaded seating and food offerings. Guests also can enjoy additional food trucks in the park, and a brand-new food location, Splash and Dash, serves up freshly-fried mini donuts which can be enjoyed underneath one of the multiple new shade structures surrounding the Mountain Waves wave pool.

“At Dollywood’s Splash Country we know the park experience is more than just our world-class slides and attractions,” explained Jordan Leach, Splash Country’s Director of Operations. “Families come here to experience both thrills and chills. To ensure we provided ample comfort and relaxation opportunities for our guests, we added multiple shade structures to our main lounge area, brought in additional food trucks for the 2023 season, and an additional venue.”

Known as “the Smokies’ Most-Trusted Water Park,” Dollywood’s Splash Country always maintains safety as its top priority. In 2022, Splash Country was honored with Ellis and Associates’ Platinum International Safety Award for “achieving the highest quality of lifeguard professionalism and operational standards.” An example of Splash Country’s dedication to water safety is the 13th annual Water Safety Day, set for June 22. Families can learn how to make a splash with confidence with a full day of learning that kicks off with the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson. Children of all ages are invited to participate in gaining life-saving knowledge.

“Water safety is something we obviously take very seriously,” said Lauren Lowery, Operations Manager. “ To be recognized by Ellis and Associates’ at the Platinum level is something that we take immense pride in. All of our lifeguards go through extensive training and licensures to ensure that our guests will be well taken care of at all times.”

Beyond a safe environment full of immersive theming, guests can experience live entertainment during their visits to the water park. This season sees the return of Too Hot Tuesdays (every Tuesday from 5/30 – 6/27 and 7/11 – 8/1),  Too Cool Thursdays (every Thursday from 6/1 – 8/3), and Splash Bash LIVE (every Saturday from 6/17 – 8/5). All of these fan favorite events will return for the 2023 season.

Now is the best time for guests to secure a summer of fun in the sun thanks to a limited-time offer on a Dollywood’s Splash Country Summer Splash Pass. Now through June 4, guests can purchase a Summer Splash Pass for just $33+tax per month! The pass provides admission to Dollywood’s Splash Country all season plus a free ticket to share with a friend! For more details including validity details, please visit www.dollywood.com/splashpass.

Dollywood’s Splash Country opens the weekend of May 13-14. Daily operation begins Saturday, May 20, and continues through Aug. 6. The park shifts to a primarily weekend-only schedule through Sep. 10. For more information about Dollywood’s Splash Country or any of The Dollywood Company properties, please visit www.dollywood.com or call 1-800-DOLLYWOOD.

Knoxville Police Obtain Warrant Charging a Man in the Shooting Death of a Man Found on Broadway Bridge

Knoxville Police Obtain Warrant Charging a Man in the Shooting Death of a Man Found on Broadway Bridge

Posted on May 5, 2023

Knoxville Police have obtained a warrant charging a man with 2nd-degree murder in the death of a man found dead on the Broadway bridge.

Investigators say Travis Brown died as a result of a gunshot wound and they now have a warrant for the arrest of Jayshawn Williams.

The investigation remains on-going in Wednesday’s shooting.

Anyone with info is asked to call East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers at 865-215-7165.

Knoxville Police Say an Incident in West Knoxville Prompts Lockdown of Several Schools

Knoxville Police Say an Incident in West Knoxville Prompts Lockdown of Several Schools

Posted on May 5, 2023

Knoxville Police say several schools in the Cedar Bluff area put on lockdown this morning after a threat is posted on social media.

KPD says School Resource and Security Officers are following up and conducting safety sweeps where calls are received out of an abundance of caution. At this time, there are no known credible threats to any schools in Knoxville.

Parents of Knoxville Catholic students were alerted to a soft lockdown this morning due to a situation in the Cedar Bluff area.

A soft lockdown means students are in classrooms and teaching is still going on but students cannot leave rooms without a teacher or administrator.

Tennessee’s Five NFL Draft Picks Second-Most In Nation Through Three Rounds

Tennessee’s Five NFL Draft Picks Second-Most In Nation Through Three Rounds

Posted on May 4, 2023

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Three rounds of the 2023 NFL Draft are complete, and Tennessee football’s five total draft selections are the second-most in the nation. The Vols added to their total Friday night as quarterback Hendon Hooker, wide receivers Jalin Hyatt and Cedric Tillman and edge rusher Byron Young were all chosen in the third round.

The four offensive picks by Tennessee through the first three rounds are tied for the most in the nation.

Four VFLs were selected during a 10-pick span in the third round. Hooker went No. 68 overall to the Detroit Lions. Hyatt and Tillman were chosen with consecutive picks at No. 73 (New York Giants) and No. 74 (Cleveland Browns), respectively. Young rounded out the selections at No. 77 to the Los Angeles Rams.

Hooker, the 2022 SEC Offensive Player of the Year, became the highest drafted Tennessee quarterback since Peyton Manning was chosen with the No. 1 overall pick by Indianapolis in 1998. Hooker broke Manning’s single-season and career completion percentage record at UT and will be reunited with high school teammate and VFL Emmanuel Moseley. He joins a Detroit roster that also includes VFLs Jalen Reeves-Maybin and Cameron Sutton.

“Leadership is very important to me,” said Hooker during his media availability. “Me being a servant leader and genuinely enjoying people succeed—that’s something that my previous teammates know about me. I am going to be a good friend and a good teammate no matter what’s going on.

“Leadership starts at the quarterback position. How ever my role on the Lions goes, I just want to come in and soak up how to be a pro and how things are ordered so that when my number is called, I can step into that big leadership position. I will be prepared for it.”  

Hyatt, holding his draft celebration in Knoxville, went five picks later and became the first Vol chosen by the Giants since Gibril Wilson in 2004. The 2022 Biletnikoff Award winner and unanimous All-American tallied 67 catches for 1,267 yards and a school-record 15 touchdowns last fall.

Tillman, watching from his home in Las Vegas, continued a family legacy of NFL Draftees. His father, Cedric, was picked by the Denver Broncos in the 11th round of the 1992 NFL Draft 31 years ago. The Browns utilized their first pick of the entire draft to get Tillman at No. 74.

Hyatt and Tillman’s selections extended Tennessee’s streak of consecutive drafts with a wide receiver picked to four. That streak is the longest in the SEC and tied with USC for the longest in the nation. The Vols were the only program with multiple wide receivers selected through the first three rounds of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Young’s remarkable journey from the junior college ranks to general manager at Dollar General to Rocky Top made Friday night that much more rewarding. He became Tennessee’s first defensive pick of the draft while watching with his family in Pawleys Island, South Carolina. He was the first Vol pass rusher chosen by the Rams since Leonart Little in 1998.

The four picks on Friday night join first-round draftee Darnell Wright (No. 10 overall) among the Vols off the board. More could follow on Saturday. Day three of the draft, featuring rounds four through seven, begins at noon ET on ESPN, ABC and NFL Network. Undrafted Tennessee players will then have an opportunity to go through the free agent process.

Tennessee NFL Draft Picks
Round (Pick), Name, Position, Team
1 (10), Darnell Wright, Offensive Tackle, Chicago Bears
3 (68), Hendon Hooker, Quarterback, Detroit Lions
3 (73), Jalin Hyatt, Wide Receiver, New York Giants
3 (74), Cedric Tillman, Wide Receiver, Cleveland Browns
3 (77), Byron Young, Edge Rusher, Los Angeles Rams

Tennessee NFL Draft Notes

  • With the five total draft selections, Tennessee has had 384 all-time draft picks, which dates back to 1936. That mark includes the AFL Draft, which merged in 1967.
  • Tennessee produced the second-most picks through the first three rounds of the draft with five. The Vols’ four offensive selections are tied for the most in the nation. Tennessee’s four offensive selections through pick 75 were the most in the nation.
  • Tennessee extended its streak of consecutive drafts with a wide receiver picked to four. That is the longest streak in the SEC and tied for the longest streak in the nation (USC).
  • Josh Heupel-coached teams have also produced at least one wide receiver pick in four straight drafts. He has had six wide receivers taken in the last four drafts combined.
  • Tennessee is the only program in the nation with multiple wide receivers selected through the first three rounds of the 2023 NFL Draft. Jalin Hyatt and Cedric Tillman became the first Vol wide receiver duo to be selected in the same draft since Cordarrelle Patterson and Justin Hunter in 2013.
  • Tennessee’s five draft picks are its most through the first three rounds of a draft since 2007.
  • Josh Heupel-coached teams have produced at least five draft picks in three straight drafts. Five Vols were chosen in last year’s draft, the first under Heupel.
  • Tennessee’s 10 picks over the last two drafts are the most over a two-year span since they had 11 from 2006-07.  
  • Offensive lineman Darnell Wright became the 47th first-round draft pick in Tennessee history. That total is top 10 in the nation.
  • Tennessee has produced three wide receivers drafted in the first three rounds of the last two drafts. That is tied for the most in the nation during that span.
  • Hendon Hooker became the 14th Vol quarterback drafted in the modern era and the highest since Peyton Manning went No. 1 overall to Indianapolis in 1998. Hooker is the third-highest draft UT QB all-time behind Manning and Heath Shuler (No. 3 in 1994).
  • Hooker is the 23rd Vol all-time to be selected by the Detroit Lions and the first since linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin in 2017.
  • Hyatt is the 12th Tennessee player chosen by the New York Giants all-time and first since defensive back Gibril Wilson in 2004. He is the highest drafted Vol offensive player by the Giants all-time.
  • Tillman is the 14th Vol player to be selected by the Cleveland Browns all-time and first since running back Montario Hardesty in 2010.
  • Young is the 15th Tennessee player selected by the Rams franchise in their history and first since running back John Kelly in 2018.
  • With Young’s pick, the Vols have now had at least one defensive lineman picked in back-to-back drafts.
  • Tennessee has produced four offensive draft picks. That’s the most offensive picks through the first three rounds of a draft for the Vols since they had four through the first three rounds of the 1991 draft.

-UT Athletics

NFL Draft / Credit: UT Athletics
Darnell Wright Selected In Top 10 of 2023 NFL Draft By Chicago Bears

Darnell Wright Selected In Top 10 of 2023 NFL Draft By Chicago Bears

Posted on May 4, 2023

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tennessee VFL Darnell Wright became the highest drafted Southeastern Conference offensive lineman of the 2023 NFL Draft as the right tackle was selected by the Chicago Bears with the No. 10 overall pick in the first round on Thursday night.

Wright, a 2022 first-team All-SEC selection, held a draft party in Knoxville and celebrated with his family and friends. It was the culmination of a dominant two-year stretch for the Huntington, West Virginia, native in the Volunteers’ explosive offense.

In 2022, he started all 13 games at right tackle for the nation’s No. 1 offense without allowing a sack in 895 snaps played. He was one of only 14 FBS offensive linemen with more than 850 snaps logged and no sacks allowed with an efficiency of 99.0 or better according to Pro Football Focus.

Darnell Wright & Josh Heupel / Credit: UT Athletics

“You see on tape, I’m big and strong,” Wright said late Thursday night in a Chicago media availability. “I don’t think people will realize once they really get to see more of me, they’ll see how athletic I am and that I can play both sides as needed.”

“I know I’m coming into a room. I just want to earn the respect of those guys first, but I can probably play anywhere on the line. My athleticism will speak for itself. I just want to get better and better at my technique.”

Wright is the 14th top-10 draft pick in Tennessee history and the first since defensive back Eric Berry in 2010. He is the highest drafted Vol offensive lineman since Charles McRae and Antone Davis went Nos. 7 and 8, respectively in 1991. Wright was the second-highest drafted offensive lineman of the entire 2023 draft.

Wright’s selection lifted the Vols’ all-time first-round pick total to 47, which is top 10 nationally.

He reunites with offensive teammate Velus Jones Jr., who was chosen in the third round by the Bears last year. Wright is the 20th Vol drafted all-time by Chicago.

Several Tennessee players are expected to come off the board early in round two of the NFL Draft, which gets underway at 7 p.m. ET Friday on ESPN2, ABC and NFL Network. The explosive offensive trio of quarterback Hendon Hooker and wide receivers Jalin Hyatt and Cedric Tillman are among the top 10 best available prospects by several draft experts. 

-UT Athletics

Darnell Wright – Bears OL / Credit: UT Athletics
NFL Draft Day Arrives For Program-Changing Tennessee VFLs

NFL Draft Day Arrives For Program-Changing Tennessee VFLs

Posted on May 4, 2023

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – A new football chapter begins for a group of Tennessee VFLs who changed the trajectory of the program as the three-day 2023 NFL Draft gets underway from Kansas City’s Union Station on Thursday evening.

ESPN, ABC and NFL Network will televise the event with round one set for 8 p.m. ET Thursday. Rounds two and three get underway at 7 p.m. Friday, while rounds four through seven take place beginning at noon Saturday.

This year’s historic group of Vols will join the already 379 all-time selected UT players dating back to 1936, which includes the 1967 AFL Draft merger.

Tennessee is poised to have five players come off the board during the draft’s first two days, including multiple potential first rounders. Last season, five Vols were selected for the entire draft following Josh Heupel‘s first season on campus and that number will grow immensely this weekend.

Offensive tackle Darnell Wright, who did allow a sack in 895 offensive snaps last season, is in great position to become the 47th Vol chosen in the first round of a draft. Currently, Tennessee’s 46 all-time first round draftees rank top 10 nationally. Wright is considered the best right tackle in the draft and proved it all fall.

Quarterback Hendon Hooker has put on a master class over the last five months in how to recover from an ACL injury in preparation for draft day. Hooker’s stock has skyrocketed, and he could possibly become the third Vol quarterback selected in the first round, joining Peyton Manning (1998) and Heath Shuler (1994).

Hooker took another step in his rehab with a drop back passing session on Wednesday morning. Hooker’s well-documented journey from Dudley High School in Greensboro, North Carolina, to Virginia Tech to Rocky Top saw him accumulate 11,053 yards of total offense, 80 passing touchdowns and only 12 interceptions in his six seasons. In his two seasons at Tennessee, he fired 58 touchdown passes to only five picks, including a stellar 27:2 ratio during a 2022 campaign in which he was named SEC Offensive Player of the Year.

Tennessee enters the weekend having produced at least one wide receiver draftee in three straight drafts, and that number will climb to four with Cedric Tillman and 2022 Biletnikoff Award winner Jalin Hyatt expected to come off the board early. It would mark the first time since 2013 that the Vols produced multiple wide receivers selected in the same draft. Cordarrelle Patterson and Justin Hunter achieved the feat that season.

Edge rusher Byron Young, who shined in two seasons on Rocky Top, has been called one of the biggest sleepers in the draft with his best football still ahead of him. The 2022 first-team All-SEC recipient tested off the charts at the NFL Combine with a 4.43 40-yard dash that was second-best among defensive linemen in 2023 and the fourth-best at that position in the past 20 years. He also led all defensive linemen with an 11’0″ broad jump.

Other Vols who could hear their names called this weekend include offensive guard Jerome Carvin, linebacker Jeremy Banks, tight end Princeton Fant, punter Paxton Brooks, defensive lineman LaTrell Bumphus and safety Trevon Flowers. Fant developed into one of the SEC’s most versatile and physical playmakers last fall, accounting for eight touchdowns. Carvin was a mainstay on the offensive line and allowed only two sacks over the last 26 games of his career.

Undrafted Tennessee players will still have an opportunity to sign with a team through the free agent process. Several Vols have thrived as undrafted prospects. Cornerback Emmanuel Moseley, who played quarterback at Dudley High School prior to Hooker, went undrafted in 2018 but will enter his sixth NFL season in 2023 after signing a $6 million deal with the Detroit Lions last month. Offensive lineman Ramon Foster played 11 NFL seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers and proved the doubters wrong.

For Heupel, the weekend will serve as another strong reminder of the turnaround of the program in a short amount of time and that development is key. Heupel ranks top 10 among head coaches nationally in NFL Draft picks produced in the last two drafts combined with 10.

Collectively in the last two seasons, the group of VFL NFL prospects:

  • won 18 games, the third-most in the SEC during that span
  • notched seven victories over Top 25 teams, the third-most in the nation during that span
  • reached the program’s first New Year’s Six bowl berth in the College Football Playoff era and dominated ACC champion Clemson in the 2022 Orange Bowl
  • ascended to the program’s first No. 1 national ranking since 1999
  • produced the program’s first 11-win season in two decades in 2022

-UT Athletics

NFL Draft / Credit: UT Athletics
NFL Draft Day Arrives For Program-Changing Tennessee VFLs

NFL Draft Day Arrives For Program-Changing Tennessee VFLs

Posted on May 4, 2023

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – A new football chapter begins for a group of Tennessee VFLs who changed the trajectory of the program as the three-day 2023 NFL Draft gets underway from Kansas City’s Union Station on Thursday evening.

ESPN, ABC and NFL Network will televise the event with round one set for 8 p.m. ET Thursday. Rounds two and three get underway at 7 p.m. Friday, while rounds four through seven take place beginning at noon Saturday.

This year’s historic group of Vols will join the already 379 all-time selected UT players dating back to 1936, which includes the 1967 AFL Draft merger.

Tennessee is poised to have five players come off the board during the draft’s first two days, including multiple potential first rounders. Last season, five Vols were selected for the entire draft following Josh Heupel‘s first season on campus and that number will grow immensely this weekend.

Offensive tackle Darnell Wright, who did allow a sack in 895 offensive snaps last season, is in great position to become the 47th Vol chosen in the first round of a draft. Currently, Tennessee’s 46 all-time first round draftees rank top 10 nationally. Wright is considered the best right tackle in the draft and proved it all fall.

Quarterback Hendon Hooker has put on a master class over the last five months in how to recover from an ACL injury in preparation for draft day. Hooker’s stock has skyrocketed, and he could possibly become the third Vol quarterback selected in the first round, joining Peyton Manning (1998) and Heath Shuler (1994).

Hooker took another step in his rehab with a drop back passing session on Wednesday morning. Hooker’s well-documented journey from Dudley High School in Greensboro, North Carolina, to Virginia Tech to Rocky Top saw him accumulate 11,053 yards of total offense, 80 passing touchdowns and only 12 interceptions in his six seasons. In his two seasons at Tennessee, he fired 58 touchdown passes to only five picks, including a stellar 27:2 ratio during a 2022 campaign in which he was named SEC Offensive Player of the Year.

Tennessee enters the weekend having produced at least one wide receiver draftee in three straight drafts, and that number will climb to four with Cedric Tillman and 2022 Biletnikoff Award winner Jalin Hyatt expected to come off the board early. It would mark the first time since 2013 that the Vols produced multiple wide receivers selected in the same draft. Cordarrelle Patterson and Justin Hunter achieved the feat that season.

Edge rusher Byron Young, who shined in two seasons on Rocky Top, has been called one of the biggest sleepers in the draft with his best football still ahead of him. The 2022 first-team All-SEC recipient tested off the charts at the NFL Combine with a 4.43 40-yard dash that was second-best among defensive linemen in 2023 and the fourth-best at that position in the past 20 years. He also led all defensive linemen with an 11’0″ broad jump.

Other Vols who could hear their names called this weekend include offensive guard Jerome Carvin, linebacker Jeremy Banks, tight end Princeton Fant, punter Paxton Brooks, defensive lineman LaTrell Bumphus and safety Trevon Flowers. Fant developed into one of the SEC’s most versatile and physical playmakers last fall, accounting for eight touchdowns. Carvin was a mainstay on the offensive line and allowed only two sacks over the last 26 games of his career.

Undrafted Tennessee players will still have an opportunity to sign with a team through the free agent process. Several Vols have thrived as undrafted prospects. Cornerback Emmanuel Moseley, who played quarterback at Dudley High School prior to Hooker, went undrafted in 2018 but will enter his sixth NFL season in 2023 after signing a $6 million deal with the Detroit Lions last month. Offensive lineman Ramon Foster played 11 NFL seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers and proved the doubters wrong.

For Heupel, the weekend will serve as another strong reminder of the turnaround of the program in a short amount of time and that development is key. Heupel ranks top 10 among head coaches nationally in NFL Draft picks produced in the last two drafts combined with 10.

Collectively in the last two seasons, the group of VFL NFL prospects:

  • won 18 games, the third-most in the SEC during that span
  • notched seven victories over Top 25 teams, the third-most in the nation during that span
  • reached the program’s first New Year’s Six bowl berth in the College Football Playoff era and dominated ACC champion Clemson in the 2022 Orange Bowl
  • ascended to the program’s first No. 1 national ranking since 1999
  • produced the program’s first 11-win season in two decades in 2022

-UT Athletics

NFL Draft / Credit: UT Athletics

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