Halfway through the 2026 college football season, Tennessee has already produced a few names that are turning heads for the next level.
The Vols are 5-1 overall and 2-1 in the SEC, with Alabama waiting next on the schedule in the Third Saturday in October rivalry matchup. Through six games, several Tennessee players have stood out enough to climb draft boards, and ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. singled out three of them when he released his first big board for the 2027 NFL Draft on Thursday.
Kiper’s list includes 25 players, and no Tennessee player cracked that group. Still, defensive tackle Xavier Gilliam, linebacker Arion Carter and running back DeSean Bishop were all mentioned among the best at their positions.
Gilliam is currently Kiper’s No. 2 defensive tackle in the class, trailing only Ole Miss’ Will Echoles. The Tennessee lineman has put together a strong stat line so far with 22 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, five sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
Carter also landed near the top of his position group. Kiper placed him at No. 4 among linebackers, behind Georgia’s Chris Cole, Notre Dame’s Kyngston Viliamu-Asa and Auburn’s Xavier Atkins. Carter has played in five games and posted 38 tackles, four tackles for loss and a sack.
Bishop is the lone Vol on Kiper’s offensive side of the conversation. He landed in the “just missed” category at running back, with Kiper’s top five at the position listed as Florida’s Jadan Baugh, Miami’s Mark Fletcher Jr., Ole Miss’ Kewan Lacy, Georgia’s Nate Frazier and Texas’ Hollywood Smothers. Bishop has handled 107 carries for 678 yards and eight touchdowns this season.
The 2027 NFL Draft is set to open on April 29 in Washington, D.C. Round one will be held that first day, with rounds two and three following on April 30. The draft wraps up on May 1 with rounds four through seven.
In Other News...
Tennessee Has One Clear Edge Entering Alabama Game That Could Matter
Tennessee and Alabama head into the Third Saturday in October with matching 5-1 records, but the numbers around this matchup suggest the Volunteers have work to do to close the gap. The SEC comparisons lean heavily toward Alabama in most major categories, from scoring offense and defense to rushing, passing, and sacks, which helps explain why Tennessee is sitting as a 7.5-point underdog on DraftKings and is given just a 28.4% chance to win by ESPNs FPI Matchup Predictor.
Even with that imbalance, Tennessee does have one clear edge entering the game, and it could end up mattering in a rivalry where small openings tend to decide everything. The challenge for the Volunteers is turning that advantage into something Alabama has to account for, because the rest of the statistical profile points to a tough afternoon if Tennessee cannot make its best strength show up early. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessees Biggest Alabama Question Just Got More Tense
Saturdays showdown at Neyland Stadium already had plenty riding on it, but the latest availability report only sharpens the edge. No. 14 Tennessee enters at 5-1 with quarterback Faizon Brandon listed as questionable, a development that leaves the Volunteers waiting on the most important piece of their offensive puzzle before kickoff against No. 6 Alabama at 3:30 p.m. ET.
Alabama, also 5-1, comes in dealing with its own injury concerns, with several players marked out or doubtful, including star wide receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams. The updated reports released ahead of the game add another layer of uncertainty to a rivalry matchup that was already set up to say plenty about both teams, and Tennessees biggest question now feels even more pressing as the start time approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee May Be Running Out Of Time In This 5-Star Battle
Kellan Halls rise to the top of the 2028 Rivals Industry Rankings has only sharpened the focus on his recruitment, and Tennessee is among the programs trying to stay in the mix for the elite defensive lineman from Christian Academy of Louisville. Hall is now the No. 1 overall prospect in the class and a five-star recruit across all major services, which makes him the type of player every SEC staff wants to keep tabs on early.
For the Volunteers, the challenge is that the momentum appears to be leaning elsewhere right now. Kentucky is the clear favorite in the Rivals Prediction Machine, and Hall has also signaled interest in staying close to home under coach Will Stein, giving the Wildcats a strong position in a battle Tennessee would love to tighten before it gets too far away. [Read more 🡒]