Vols defender labeled by ESPN as a top draft riser in 2025; NFL scout questions why he didn't play more for Tennnessee in 2024
ESPN NFL draft analyst Jordan Reid thinks a Tennessee Vols defensive lineman will be one of the biggest risers in the 2025 NFL Draft. Reid pointed out Vols defensive lineman Omarr Norman-Lott as one of 10 players that he thinks is "primed to gain momentum and jump up draft boards". Interestingly, an AFC scout questioned […]
ESPN NFL draft analyst Jordan Reid thinks a Tennessee Vols defensive lineman will be one of the biggest risers in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Reid pointed out Vols defensive lineman Omarr Norman-Lott as one of 10 players that he thinks is "primed to gain momentum and jump up draft boards".
Interestingly, an AFC scout questioned why Norman-Lott didn't play more for the Vols in 2024 (Norman-Lott, for example, played just 13 snaps in Tennessee's loss to Ohio State in the first round of the College Football Playoff).
Tennessee utilizes a heavy defensive line rotation to keep players fresh for late-game situations, which is what led to a low snap count for Norman-Lott.
From ESPN: Norman-Lott caught my eye while I was going through film of this loaded defensive tackle class. At 6-foot-3 and 315 pounds, he's a fierce penetrator with an electric first step. He stays consistent through his rush plans, too. Norman-Lott's box-score stats aren't flashy, with only 18 tackles and four sacks this season. But he was part of a deep rotation, playing 20 or more snaps in only five of 13 games.
"I know they had a lot of talent up front, but why did he play so little?" an AFC director of college scouting said. "I would have liked to see him play more in a full-time role, especially on early downs."
Norman-Lott had a 9.1% defensive pressure rate when lined up inside — 10th-best among all FBS defensive linemen. Some see him as an early Day 3 prospect because of questions about his run defense, but it's easy to see him climbing due to his talent as a pass rusher. He'll be able to show the totality of his game at the Senior Bowl and prove he's more than just a role player.
Norman-Lott started his career at Arizona State, playing for the Sun Devils for three seasons before transferring to Tennessee ahead of the 2023 season.
In two seasons with the Vols, Norman-Lott totaled 44 tackles and 9.5 sacks (Norman-Lott had 4.0 sacks in three seasons at Arizona State).
Tennessee's approach to rotating along the defensive line isn't changing anytime soon. It's a wise approach that ensures players stay fresh through the grind of an SEC schedule.
Norman-Lott, however, is clearly an early round NFL talent that could've been better utilized by the Vols in 2024 (as ESPN pointed out, he played 20 or more snaps in only five of Tennessee's 13 games this past season).
Rotating defensive linemen is the right move, but Tennessee needs to make sure they're getting their best players on the field as often as possible within that rotation.
