Vols Take Part in NFL Pro Day
By Mark Nagi
Back in the dark times of Tennessee football, you didn’t have a whole lot of NFL-caliber talent on the Vols roster. But with the recent good fortune of the program has come more interest from the next level.
Last Tuesday, March 11, 14 former Vols worked out for representatives from all 32 NFL teams at Tennessee Pro Day. This was another opportunity for UT alums to impress the scouts.
Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel said, “They did a great job representing themselves and our program today, too, so I’m really looking forward to seeing this journey continue for them, get to draft day and ultimately training camp and the season.”
The top Vol off the NFL Draft board will likely be Edge Rusher James Pearce, Jr., who was one of the most dominant players in the SEC the last 2 seasons. “On my tape there’s not much that you can dislike,” said Peace. “I can be a little better with my hands and there’s always a place to grow in your game, but I haven’t gotten too many dislikes… Each team is looking for something else or wants to know something about you that will help the team, and also how they can help you. That’s the same part, telling them how they can help me. I am not the type of guy to open up, but within 20 minutes of a phone meeting, they have to get to know me as much as possible during that time.”
“Young men when they come into our building, they are at varying levels of maturity,” said Heupel. “It’s our job to accelerate them as fast as we can. James has done a really good job. The football understanding grew really quickly and has continued to grow. Developing as a man and as a person, he has done a really good job of continuing that, too.”
The NFL seems to be making a shift and giving the running back position increased value these days. That should make Dylan Sampson a sought-after player in the draft. Sampson broke multiple single-season school records at UT, including rushing yards with 1485, as well as total and rushing touchdowns with 22.
“I know there are a lot of things I can do outside of running the ball,” said Sampson. “I try to look at games like [NFL RBs] Jahmyr Gibbs and Alvin Kamara. I look at myself as being able to do things like that. Even being a returner on special teams. I’m going to bring a lot of value to a program or organization, and that’s what I’m looking to do.”
“He has a great understanding of the game,” Heupel said of Sampson. “Great vision and pace as a running back, ability to set up and use the blockers in front of him. He can make plays out of the backfield catching the football. He’s got return ability. His pass protection was really good for us, and he’s going to continue to get better at that too. He’s a guy that in three short years has made a lot of plays, and that’s going to go with him forward, but his best football is still out in front of him too. Dynamic leader.”
The NFL Draft will take place April 24-26 in Green Bay. WR Dont’e Thornton is a player whose 4.3-second 40-yard dash speed will ensure that he will be one of those players to hear his name called. “I’m a bigger receiver, but I would also say I’m versatile as I can play both inside and outside,” said Thornton. “That’s the main attraction for a lot of teams.”
Tennessee has prepared many alums for a career in the pro ranks. The next set is on the way.
