Tennessee Vols primed for big NFL draft after 2-year drought

In the last two NFL drafts, 509 players were selected. Among those players, a nation-leading 105 were from the SEC.

Not a single one was from the University of Tennessee.

But the program is poised to snap its two-year draft drought this year in a big way.

Not only are the Vols expected to have multiple players selected, they also are expected to have multiple players picked in the early rounds.

Defensive end Derek Barnett, running back Alvin Kamara, defensive back Cameron Sutton, quarterback Joshua Dobbs and wide receiver Josh Malone are projected to be taken in the first five rounds.

The NFL draft starts Thursday in Philadelphia with the first round beginning at 8 p.m. ET (ESPN, NFL Network). Rounds 2-3 will begin Friday at 7 p.m. and rounds 4-7 begin Saturday at noon.

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Barnett will be attending the draft with a VFL Films camera crew in tow to chronicle the experience near the steps of "Rocky" movie fame.

UT is likely to have at least six players selected. The last time the Vols had five or more players drafted was 2010 when six were picked.

“I am proud of the seniors who’ve left the program. Their lives are about to change here in another week,” Tennessee coach Butch Jones said following UT’s Orange and White Game. “You look at how far we’ve come, and draft weekend is going to be very, very special at Tennessee.”

Barring an unforeseen drop, Barnett will be the first UT player selected in the first round since Ja’Wuan James in 2014. Various analysts are projecting the Nashville native to be taken anywhere from No. 4 to the low 20s based on team needs.

In a deep running back class, Kamara has been slotted as a likely early second-round pick with a chance to squeeze into the late first round.

Dobbs’ stock has risen dramatically over the last few weeks as he met with teams and showcased his high football IQ.

Dobbs entered his senior season as a potential late-round pick or free agent. But after strong performances at the Senior Bowl, NFL Combine and UT’s Pro Day, Dobbs is likely to be selected in the first four rounds, with ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay going as far as saying last week that Dobbs “could sneak into the first round.”

Having impressed scouts with his versatility and recovery from a fractured ankle, Sutton has held steady as a likely third- or fourth-round pick in a strong secondary class.

Coming off a breakout season, wide receiver Josh Malone is projected to go in rounds 3-5. Linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin, completing his recovery from shoulder surgery, could be a late-round pick.

Seeing Tennessee’s name back on the NFL draft board has been inspiring to the current Vols and beneficial in trying to lure future players.

“They all help recruiting when you can say, ‘Look, we had this first-round draft pick. We had these players drafted. Josh Dobbs was on the Jon Gruden special — all those things,’” Tennessee defensive coordinator Bob Shoop said. “Anything you can do to get the Power T out there and the brand out there is going to be positive in recruiting.”