Tennessee football alumni set to make an impact across the NFL
The 2023 NFL season kicks off on Sunday, and well over half the teams in the league will have a former Tennessee Volunteer among their ranks. Former Vols are on either the active roster, practice squad, or injury list of 20 of the league's 32 teams. The Detroit Lions have the most with four, followed […]
The 2023 NFL season kicks off on Sunday, and well over half the teams in the league will have a former Tennessee Volunteer among their ranks.
Former Vols are on either the active roster, practice squad, or injury list of 20 of the league's 32 teams. The Detroit Lions have the most with four, followed by the Las Vegas Raiders and New Orleans Saints with three each.
For those looking to keep up with teams that will have the most Vols on the field on Sundays, there are a few clear choices. Out of all 20 teams, 3 have multiple ex-UT players on the active roster, meaning they are eligible to play on Sunday without further roster adjustments. Again, the Lions lead the way with three of their former UT players being active on the active roster, and aside from Hendon Hooker (on the team's reserve/non-football injury list), all will see the field on Sundays.
The Saints and Panthers each have multiple players on the active 53-man roster. Cade Mays is listed as the reserve center, and Shy Tuttle is one of the team's starting defensive tackles. RB Alvin Kamara – who is serving a three-game suspension to start the season – is the engine that drives the Saints' offense, and Alontae Taylor is listed as the second-string cornerback behind starter Marshon Lattimore.
But many Tennessee fans' eyes will be on the country's biggest market – New York. Jalin Hyatt – the Giants' third round draft pick – has turned heads in the preseason. Knocked by many as a product of Josh Heupel's system, a strong rookie showing would work quickly to dispel that misconception. Hyatt is listed as second-team on the Week 1 depth chart behind Isaiah Higgins, but his overall ceiling and skillset will make it tough for him to stay on the sideline for long. The Giants open the season against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night.
Josh Dobbs' debut as the Arizona Cardinals' starting quarterback will also be must-watch television on Sunday. Dobbs was traded last month from Cleveland to Arizona, where he will serve as the most experienced option until Kyler Murray is ready to return from an ACL injury. Arizona is at Washington on Sunday afternoon.
Cedric Tillman, Darnell Wright, and Byron Young will also be other names to keep an eye on around the league, as they will all play key roles in their first seasons. Rams head coach Sean McVay previously mentioned Young as a player who could have an immediate impact on the 2021-22 Super Bowl champions. Wright will be tasked with helping to protect one of the NFL's most exciting young players in Justin Fields. Tillman, who is listed as second team on the depth chart behind veteran Elijah Moore, should work his way into the rotation as one of Deshaun Watson's targets this fall.
With several impactful players from Tennessee's 2022 run in the NFL, there will be a lot of exciting moments to watch as a number of VFLs begin the next journey of their careers.
Bears GM on former Tennessee OL Darnell Wright: “it gave me goosebumps”
Chicago’s Ryan Poles talked about when he was hooked on his first-round draft pick
Featured image via John Jones-USA TODAY Sports
