Five Vols land in top three rounds of recent 2023 NFL mock drafts

The college football season isn't quite wrapped up and the NFL season is still rolling, but that hasn't stopped analysts from projecting where the stars of college football will land in the NFL.

In the case of Tennessee, the nation’s best offense and a highly ranked team means some of its key pieces have gained enough attention to be considered a third-round pick or better at the next level.

Let's dive into where the Vols' stars are forecasted to spend their professional careers.

Tankathon: Round 2, Pick 41 to Atlanta Falcons

Draft Tek: Round 3, Pick 76 to Pittsburgh Steelers

Draft Countdown: Round 1, Pick 25 to Baltimore Ravens

Out of the three mock drafts featured, Jalin Hyatt is the only player to crack the first round. Some analysts are higher on his professional ceiling than others, but all consider him as one of the top receivers in the class.

These high hopes stem from a breakout junior campaign. The speedy wide receiver shattered the school record book with 15 receiving touchdowns on the season. He also racked up 1,267 yards on his way to winning the school's first Biletnikoff Trophy.

The moment that Hyatt truly entered the national spotlight was his performance against Alabama. In the Vols' upset victory, he caught five touchdowns while totaling 207 yards. His continual success from this moment had led to him slowly but surely raising his draft stock.

What interests NFL teams is his speed out of the slot position. They will hope he can continue to improve as a route runner and become an effective speedster at the next level.

Following the regular season, Hyatt declared he would enter the NFL Draft and skip out on the Orange Bowl. However, he did say he would be in Miami to support his teammates.

Tankathon: Round 2, Pick 46 to Oakland Raiders

Draft Tek: Round 2, Pick 50 to Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Draft Countdown: Round 3, Pick 68 to New Orleans Saints

Perhaps the biggest name among the Tennessee stars is quarterback Hendon Hooker. The signal-caller was in the Heisman conversation for the entirety of the season until he tore his ACL against South Carolina in the second-to-last game of the year.

In his time on the field, he proved to be one of the nation's best players. He threw for 27 touchdowns with only two interceptions in 2022. He also totaled 3,135 yards through the air. On the ground, he added 430 yards and five touchdowns. This play was good enough to earn him SEC Offensive Player of the Year honors.

This dual-threat ability makes him a desired quarterback option. Not only is he athletic, but he also has showcased the power to be accurate at all ranges. While commanding the offense, he rarely missed on throws and hardly ever turned it over.

Outside of his injury that will likely hold him out of the preseason and the early stages of the regular season, the biggest knock on Hooker is his age. The talent that he's displayed is enough to shoot him toward the top of the quarterback rankings, but younger quarterbacks are much more appealing to NFL teams. Hooker will be 25 at the time of the draft. This makes him older than Trey Lance, Zach Wilson, Justin Fields, Trevor Lawrence, Bailey Zappe, Malik Willis, Brock Purdy, Justin Herbert, Tua Tagovailoa, Jordan Love, Jalen Hurts, Tyler Huntley, Sam Ehlinger, Davis Mills, Mac Jones, Kenny Pickett and Anthony Brown — who have all started NFL games.

Tankathon: Round 3, Pick 67 to Chicago Bears

Draft Tek: Round 2, Pick 52 to Tennessee Titans

Draft Countdown: Round 2, Pick 45 to Green Bay Packers

Possibly the most risky pick of Tennessee's stars is Cedric Tillman. In Tillman's first three years on Rocky Top, he caught a total of eight passes. In his fourth year, he caught 64 while totaling 1,081 yards and 12 touchdowns.

However, in just the third game of the season during his fifth year, he suffered a lower leg injury that plagued him for the remaining games. He appeared in just three games following the injury before shutting it down for the season and declaring for the NFL Draft.

Through his six appearances, though, he racked up 417 yards and three touchdowns. Before his injury, in a matchup against Pittsburgh, he dazzled with 162 yards and an overtime touchdown to push the Vols to victory.

The talent is clearly there for Tillman but NFL teams may get scared off by his injury and limited reps this season. It is hard to imagine he falls too far in the draft, though.

Tankathon: Round 2, Pick 63 to Buffalo Bills

Draft Tek: N/A

Draft Countdown: N/A

Right tackle Darnell Wright is a prospect that some analysts are very high on. The four-year starter made a name for himself this season after earning a five-star ranking out of high school.

In 2022, he played a key part in Tennessee's effective offensive line. He didn't allow a sack in 18 straight games dating back to the previous season. This earned him All-SEC First Team honors along with being named as a Rotary Lombardi Semifinalist.

Besides his brute strength and athleticism, what interests analysts is his versatility. While at Tennessee, Wright saw success at both tackle positions and right guard. This plug-and-play skillset means he can fit in with almost any team that drafts him.

Tankathon: N/A

Draft Tek: N/A

Draft Countdown: Round 3, Pick 96 to Arizona Cardinals

Rounding out the group is offensive guard Jerome Carvin. Similar to Wright, Carvin was a highly-rated prospect that became a veteran staple on the offensive line. 2022 was his fifth year on the team after starting in each season.

Carvin didn't become an every-game starter until his senior season. While playing a myraid of positions, he did not give up a single sack the entire season. As a fifth-year senior, he only gave up one sack while staying locked in as the left guard.

Also like Wright, Carvin is known for his versatility. He's started 20 games at left guard, 17 at right guard and five at center. He hasn't shown an ability to play the tackle position, but being able to move him around the interior gives him an advantage.

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