Tennessee Football has long been a talent factory for the NFL, yet this year, only one Volunteer made it onto CBS Sports’ prestigious Top 100 current players list. That honor goes to former Tennessee EDGE rusher Byron Young, who’s been turning heads with his performance for the Los Angeles Rams.
Landing at No. 82, Young is making waves in the league, and for good reason.
Byron Young has been nothing short of a revelation on the Rams' defensive line. Coming off a standout third season, he racked up an impressive 12 sacks in 2025, earning his first Pro Bowl selection.
With career highs in tackles (82), solo tackles (45), assisted tackles (37), and sacks, Young is proving to be a formidable force. Plus, with a forced fumble and 5.5 stuffs to his name, his impact is undeniable.
Now, teaming up with Myles Garrett, Young's presence on the field is set to be even more influential.
Last year's list saw Chiefs OG Trey Smith as the only Volunteer, ranked at No. 90.
Meanwhile, notable names like RB Alvin Kamara, WR Jauan Jennings, and CB Alontae Taylor were absent from both editions. It seems Tennessee is in a bit of a transitional phase regarding NFL representation.
However, with 41 Tennessee players in the NFL this summer, and 33 having played under Josh Heupel, the future looks promising.
Looking ahead, several Tennessee alumni are poised to make their mark in the league and potentially break into future Top 100 lists. Keep an eye on CB Colton Hood, WR Chris Brazzell, DL Omarr Norman-Lott, OG Trey Smith, DL James Pearce Jr., and CB Jermod McCoy, especially if McCoy can maintain his health. These players have the potential to elevate Tennessee’s reputation in the NFL even further.
In Other News...
Why Tennessee's Buzzed About EDGE Never Found His Footing
Chaz Colemans Tennessee stint never really got a chance to settle in. The former Penn State EDGE rusher arrived with some buzz, but his time in Knoxville was defined by missed spring and summer work, with head coach Josh Heupel acknowledging there were off-field matters he had to navigate as well. For a player brought in to add help on the edge, the bigger story became whether he could get himself right enough to consistently be part of the programs day-to-day.
Instead, the concerns kept stacking up on both the personal and physical sides, and Tennessees staff saw enough to move on. Colemans situation had already been trending in the wrong direction for a while, with questions around his ability to handle team responsibilities and stay engaged through the grind of the offseason. For the Vols, it leaves another reminder that roster building is about more than talent, especially when a player never gets past the part where he is trying to find his footing. [Read more 🡒]
These 3 Vols Could Decide How Tennessee's 2026 Offense Holds Up
Tennessees offense enters 2026 with plenty to sort out, and the biggest question starts at quarterback after Joey Aguilar. George MacIntyre, Faizon Brandon and Ryan Staub are all in the mix, but the ripple effects go well beyond that competition. The Vols also need left tackle David Sanders Jr. to stabilize a line that will be protecting a new starter, while Ethan Davis is positioned to become an even more important piece in the passing game as Tennessee looks for reliable answers around him.
The backfield carries its own pressure points, because DeSean Bishop is coming off a huge season and the Vols do not have the same kind of established depth behind him. Peyton Lewis and Star Thomas are gone, leaving Tennessee to lean on unproven options such as Daune Morris, Justin Baker and Tulane transfer Javin Baker. If the quarterback race is the headline, the health of the offense may end up depending just as much on whether Bishop can keep producing and whether the supporting cast around him is ready sooner rather than later. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Suddenly Has One Huge Pass Rush Question Before Week 1
Tennessees pass rush is suddenly under a spotlight, and the concern is less about finding one starter than figuring out who else can hold up once the season begins in two months. Jordan Norman is the expected answer off the edge, but the Vols are working with limited proven depth behind him, which makes the entire position group one of the more important camp storylines for Josh Heupel and Jim Knowles.
Freshmen TJ White and Zach Groves are among the names coaches will be watching closely as they search for help, but the bigger issue is whether enough players can develop quickly enough to keep the defense from feeling thin. With so little established production behind Norman, Tennessee does not have much margin for error if injuries or inconsistency show up early. [Read more 🡒]