Former Vols standout named an under-the-radar sleeper for 2025 NFL Draft after transferring from Tennessee
A former Tennessee Vols standout was mentioned by an NFL scout this week as an under-the-radar sleeper for the 2025 NFL Draft. An NFL scout told ESPN that former Vols defensive lineman Tyler Baron, who transferred to Louisville this offseason before landing with the Miami Hurricanes after spring practice, is a player that's primed to […]
A former Tennessee Vols standout was mentioned by an NFL scout this week as an under-the-radar sleeper for the 2025 NFL Draft.
An NFL scout told ESPN that former Vols defensive lineman Tyler Baron, who transferred to Louisville this offseason before landing with the Miami Hurricanes after spring practice, is a player that's primed to break out in 2025.
"They are jacked about this guy," said an AFC East scout to ESPN about Baron. "Coaches there (at Miami) think he can be this year's Laiatu Latu as a transfer who quickly dominates and blows up."
ESPN NFL draft analyst Matt Miller suggested that Baron could be a potential first round selection in next year's NFL draft if he can show more consistency.
From ESPN: Tennessee defensive end James Pearce Jr. will receive a ton of attention as a top-10 prospect over the next nine months, but his former teammate makes this list as a player to watch after transferring to Miami.
Baron, a 6-5, 260-pound edge rusher, had six sacks last season but is primed to break out, according to scouts who know the Hurricanes.
"They are jacked about this guy," said an AFC East scout. "Coaches there think he can be this year's Laiatu Latu as a transfer who quickly dominates and blows up."
Comparing Baron to the first defensive player drafted in 2024 is a lofty aspiration, but the flashes were there on his tape at Tennessee. It also helps that he left Tennessee with four years of experience, along with 29.5 tackles for loss in his career. If the Hurricanes can get more consistency from Baron, he has shown the savvy pass-rush moves needed to move into the Round 1 discussion.
Baron is coming off the best season of his collegiate career, totaling 28 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, and 6.0 sacks last season for the Vols. He also had a fumble returned for a touchdown in 2023.
Tennessee has plenty of defensive line depth entering the 2024 season — it might be the deepest position on their roster. Losing Baron, however, is still a big loss for the program. It's clear that Baron is a future NFL player. And he might even be a future first rounder.
The Vols shouldn't be happy that Baron left Rocky Top, but they should at least be happy that he left the SEC. Baron's the type of player that gives opposing offensive linemen headaches for three plus hours on Saturdays in the fall.
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