NFL draft: Several former Tennessee Vols, Oren Burks of Vanderbilt invited to combine

Four former Tennessee players who played for the Vols in 2017 have been invited to the NFL scouting combine. The league on Tuesday announced 326 combine participants.

The Tennessee contingent includes running back John Kelly, defensive tackle Kahlil McKenzie, defensive back Rashaan Gaulden and punter Trevor Daniel. All except Daniel, who was a senior, decided to forgo their final year of college eligibility.

Outgoing senior tight end Ethan Wolf and safety/kick returner Evan Berry were not among the invitees.

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The combine will be Feb. 27 to March 5 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Kelly rushed for 778 yards on 189 carries with nine touchdowns and also tied for the team lead with 37 receptions, which produced 299 yards.

McKenzie never lived up to his five-star recruiting ranking, but he had the best statistical year of his career last season, posting 35 tackles.

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Gaulden was Tennessee's top defensive player in 2017. He mostly played nickelback but also took some snaps at cornerback. He ranked fifth on the team with 65 tackles, led the team with three fumble recoveries, tied for the team lead with three forced fumbles and had an interception.

Daniel ranked second in the SEC with a punting average of 47.5 yards.

Every SEC team except Kentucky had at least one player listed among the combine participants. Vanderbilt linebacker Oren Burks received an invitation. He had 237 career tackles, including 82 as a senior, before making six tackles in the Senior Bowl.

Memphis quarterback Riley Ferguson, a former Vol, received an invitation.

Kelly is projected as a fourth- to sixth-round pick by Charlie Campbell, NFL draft analyst for WalterFootball.com. McKenzie and Gaulden are projected as fifth- to seventh-round picks by Campbell, and he projects Daniel going in the sixth or seventh rounds or being an undrafted free agent.

Burks has a better projection than any Tennessee player, with Campbell projecting him going in the third or fourth round.