For the first time since 2017, Tennessee football had a player selected in the first round of the NFL Draft. Caleb Calhoun and Dave Hooker cover that on Off the Hook Sports’ Friday, April 28 podcast along with the fact that neither Vols quarterback Hendon Hooker or Kentucky Wildcats QB Will Levis was taken. Desperation from a rival, poaching from Deion Sanders and the appearance of Fred White all also made the show.
OL Darnell Wright taken in first round of NFL Draft
The Chicago Bears took offensive lineman Darnell Wright with the 10th pick of the 2023 NFL Draft Thursday night. Wright became the first Tennessee football player taken in the first round of the NFL Draft since Derek Barnett in 2017. He’s the first UT offensive lineman to go in the first round since Ja’Wuan James in 2014. Those are the only two first-round UT linemen dating back to 1992.
Hendon Hooker, Will Levis not drafted
Speculation was abound that Tennessee football quarterback Hendon Hooker was being used as a smokescreen in this year’s NFL Draft, and after not going in the first round, that seems confirmed. However, Will Levis, whose stock shot up to a potential first-rounder, was also not drafted, which was a huge shock. Who goes first?
Fred White talks Tennessee football
National championship UT defensive back Fred White joins the show for his weekly Friday appearance to talk about the Vols. White played strong safety for Rocky Top from 1995 to 1999 and provides insight to the current program under Josh Heupel, what the program was like in the past and players that he competed with.
Alabama football desperate with quarterback transfer
Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Tyler Buchner transferred to the Alabama Crimson Tide Thursday. This came after Jalen Milroe and Ty Simpson both underperformed in the spring. As written here on Off the Hook Sports, this is a sign of desperation by Nick Saban and new offensive coordinator Tommy Rees, who came from ND.
Deion Sanders, Colorado add Tennessee football DL
A week after entering the portal, former Tennessee football defensive lineman Amari McNeill has now landed with Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes. Is this a concern for the Vols, or is it much ado about nothing? This column on Off the Hook Sports addressed the transfer and what it means going forward.
