Former Tennessee Vols defender named as a top undrafted free agent to watch ahead of the 2025 NFL season
A former Tennessee Vols defender who flew under-the-radar at times during his six seasons on Rocky Top was named by The Athletic this week as one of the top undrafted free agents to watch this summer. Former Vols defensive tackle Elijah Simmons, 6-foot-1/334 lbs from Memphis/Nashville, was signed by the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted […]
A former Tennessee Vols defender who flew under-the-radar at times during his six seasons on Rocky Top was named by The Athletic this week as one of the top undrafted free agents to watch this summer.
Former Vols defensive tackle Elijah Simmons, 6-foot-1/334 lbs from Memphis/Nashville, was signed by the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent shortly after the conclusion of the 2025 NFL Draft.
The Athletic thinks Simmons has the build to be a "space eater" in the NFL.
From The Athletic: There’s not much versatility here but Simmons, a 6-foot-1, 334-pound nose tackle, has the build to be the type of interior space eater for which teams are constantly searching. He was part of a heavy rotation at Tennessee (14.4 snaps per game last year), but when he was on the field, he brought the force and explosion necessary to be a run stuffer.
Simmons, a former three-star recruit who signed with Tennessee during the 2019 recruiting cycle, didn't put up gaudy numbers during his time with the Vols (59 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, and 3 passes defensed). His size combined with his surprising athleticism, however, made him a useful presence along the interior of UT's defensive line.
Making an NFL roster as an undrafted free agent isn't an easy task. But I think Simmons, thanks to his size and athleticism, has a real chance to earn a spot on an NFL roster. That doesn't necessarily mean that he's a lock to make a roster out of training camp — he may have to spend some time on a practice squad or two — but I could see Simmons having a pro career as an unheralded rotational defensive lineman who provides valuable snaps for an NFL franchise.
Recruiting analyst says the Tennessee Vols will be ‘really tough to beat’ for highly-rated 4-star recruit
Definitely a player the Vols need to land
