Last weekend’s NFL Draft wrapped up with four Tennessee Football players selected: James Pearce Jr., Omarr Norman-Lott, Dylan Sampson and Dont’e Thornton. That makes for 17 Vols selected since Josh Heupel’s first season in 2021, including nine offensive players. Of those nine, eight have been offensive skill players (quarterback, running back, wide receiver).
None of them have worked out to this point.
As Heupel enters his fifth season with Tennessee Football, he is still waiting for a breakthrough player he coached on offense to put up big NFL numbers. Remember, the selling point of Heupel is that his offense can help skill players put up video game numbers which in turn get them to the NFL.
However, if they keep getting drafted with no production, the narrative will change. We already know that Nico Iamaleava’s camp is claiming they left UT over its offensive scheme and developing players for the NFL. Former NFL wide receiver T. J. Houshmandzadeh, close with the Iamaleava family, said former Vols have stated they weren’t ready for the pros.
Regardless of how seriously you take Iamaleava’s statement, there seems to be some truth to the offense.
Jalin Hyatt, a Biletnikoff Award winner and the star of the offense during Heupel’s tenure to this point, has yet to see significant action with the New York Giants. He actually regressed from 373 receiving yards to 62 yards this past year, and there are now tons of questions about his game.
Hendon Hooker, a Heisman candidate for much of 2022 as he threw to Hyatt, has never been able to supplant himself as a backup for the Detroit Lions. They signed Teddy Bridgewater ahead of the playoffs and signed Kyle Allen this offseason, who will join Hooker in backing up Jared Goff.
Cedric Tillman has shown some progress, going from 224 yards to 393 yards and three touchdowns receiving, but he still hasn’t broken out. Joe Milton III started a meaningless game for the New England Patriots at quarterback last year, but has since been traded to the Dallas Cowboys. Jaylen Wright had only 249 yards with the Miami Dolphins as a rookie.
Now, you may point out that players should get three years to prove themselves, and none of the players we named to this point have gotten that yet. That’s fair, but running backs usually stand out as a rookie. Wright didn’t, so that has to be somewhat of a red flag.
Also, Velus Jones Jr., now with the New Orleans Saints, has been in the league for three years. He was a reliable kickoff returner for the Chicago Bears his first two years there, but his rookie year was the only season he went for over 100 yards from scrimmage. Now, he’s with the New Orleans Saints, and his opportunities may be dwindling.
Simply put, Tennessee Football has an NFL production problem that isn’t matching its NFL Draft success. At some point, that’s going to be used against the Vols on the recruiting trail. Sampson and Thornton could fare better, but this is a make or break year in the pros for Vols’ offensive skill players.
