SIX Vols Invited to NFL Combine!

#1
TAF

TAF

Oh Yeah...I mean it!
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#1
Largest # in a while...as far as I can recall...

Tennessee Volunteers NFL Combine Invites:​

2025 NFL Scouting Combine Schedule
Wednesday, Feb. 26 - Norman-Lott, Pearce Jr., Simmons media/team interviews
Thursday, Feb. 27 – Norman-Lott, Pearce Jr., Simmons measurements/on-field workout
Friday, Feb. 28 – McCoy, Sampson, Thornton Jr. media/team interviews
Saturday, March 1 – McCoy, Sampson, Thornton Jr. measurements/on-field workout

NFL Network coverage begins at 3 p.m. ET Thursday and Friday and starts at 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Gkt-00PWEAEgP5l
 
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#5
#5
While certainly good considering what Pruitt left in sanctions, etc, Texas and GA have 14 invited.

We've got a lot of catching up to do if we're going to maintain the success of the last few years.

Heupel and Co have definitely done great work and will hopefully keep it up but the talent gap is still there if we're going to push it to the next level.
 
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#6
#6
whm324 said:
I'm really surprised Omari Thomas didn't get one. I'm glad Simmons did, but still surprised. He has all of the measurables, doesn't he?
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Not to mention Mays and Sprags and Castles

That being said its often better to sign as an UDFA than go in the 6th or 7th. UDFA's have some control over where they go where a late round pick might go into a logjam at their position. Imagine being stuck in Cleveland knowing they drafted another guy at your position and have a logjam on the roster at your position.

edit: typed cade instead of cooper and forgot castles was already gone.
 
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#7
#7
OSU had 15 declared while both Georgia and Texas had 14 each followed by Oregon with 13.

I read that OSU had a decent shot at breaking Georgia's record of 15 - a couple of years ago - but LB Sonny Styles and that CB - Igno-something both decided to return for 2025

That OSU team was super-talented and there was no shame for us losing to them in the Playoffs
 
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#8
#8
Volheaven50 said:
OSU had 15 declared while both Georgia and Texas had 14 each followed by Oregon with 13.

I read that OSU had a decent shot at breaking Georgia's record of 15 - a couple of years ago - but LB Sonny Styles and that CB - Igno-something both decided to return for 2025

That OSU team was super-talented and there was no shame for us losing to them in the Playoffs
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NIL made this possible. Not saying that them getting Howard, Judkins and Downs wasn’t a big deal, but their ability to retain a lot of experienced guys like Sawyer is what got them the title. Same thing w/ Michigan the season before.
 
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#9
#9
pimo1 said:
Not to mention Cade and Sprags and Castles.

That being said it’s often better to sign as an UDFA than go in the 6th or 7th. UDFA's have some control over where they go where a late round pick might go into a logjam at their position. Imagine being stuck in Cleveland knowing they drafted another guy at your position and have a logjam on the roster at your position.
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Cooper isn’t really a prospect. He’ll probably get a shot as an UDFA, but he won’t be drafted. Castles graduated after the 2023 season. He’s currently with the Chargers.
 
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#10
#10
Boston Vol said:
Cade isn’t really a prospect. He’ll probably get a shot as an UDFA, but he won’t be drafted. Castles graduated after the 2023 season. He’s currently with the Chargers.
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my bad on Castles.... I disagree on Cooper (sorry typed cade) being a prospect though. Center is a very specialised position. On average about 7 get drafted a year. He is ranked 5th on most boards.
 
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#13
#13
Yah, I'm surprised as well that Cooper didn't get an invitation.

Six Vols invited shows we still have a bit to go before we're playing with the same talent as Ohio State and Georgia...they're each sending 14 or 15 to the combine.

Go Vols!
 
#15
#15
Congrats to Elijah Simmons!!!

From a 3-star diamond in the rough to an NFL combine invite.

He just kept working and getting a little better each day.
 
#19
#19
TAF said:
Largest # in a while...as far as I can recall...

Tennessee Volunteers NFL Combine Invites:​

  • Dylan Sampson, RB
  • Bru McCoy, WR
  • Dont'e Thornton. Jr., WR
  • Omarr Norman-Lott, DL
  • James Pearce Jr., DL
  • Elijah Simmons, DL

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The gut says those guys will have all have good NFL careers. Donte Thornton may be most equipped to break out and be biggest name.

Interesting to see the NFL feels differently about those guy's talent than we as fans do. Just goes to show you, we, I dont know **** from shinola.
 
#21
#21
As far as Big O and Simmons goes, Simmons is plug and play in his current form. He is your 3-4 nose playing on run downs.
O is less clear. He is a tweener in a lot of ways. He is big but not very good as a 1 tech because he is horrible with doubles. He plays high and gets washed way down the lines. His best skill is as a vertical penetrator, so maybe some team that needs a rush 3-tech can pick him up. In a 3-4, he isn't fast enough to play the rush end position but may have some value on run downs if they like to go under.
He is really athletically gifted, but his pad level is bad and his hand placement is also not up to NFL standards. Against good OL who had balance and got hands on OT, he didn't do much. Most of his plays were just where he shot a gap and then made a play. He is a guy that will end up on a practice squad and will probably get in some games. He is too physically gifted not to.
Go ahead and flame, but I specifically watch this position group play and this is echoed on most draft sites. Plays high, no rush plan other than blasting forward pads first. He is worth taking a flyer on though. This is what is killing his stock though.
 
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#23
#23
superdave1984 said:
Pearce and Norman-Lott maybe both go in the first round. For sure by round 2. Sampson may be the steal of the draft.
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Norman Lott is NOT going in the 1st Rd. Hopefully Pearce can go in the top 15-20. Before the season started, he was projected to be a top 5 pick with some predicating #1. Obviously he stock fell, but hopefully he gets drafted by a team that can develop him.
 
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