The NFL season is officially underway, with a good number of former Tennessee football standouts making impacts for their teams. This included sacks from Jaylen McCollough and Byron Young for the Rams, and Alontae Taylor for the Saints. Finding the end zone included Alvin Kamara for the Saints and Cedric Tillman for the Browns.
Three of the Vols’ rookies also made debuts, with Dylan Sampson of the Browns, Dont’e Thornton Jr. of the Raiders and James Pearce Jr. of the Falcons having strong outings.
Here’s a player-by-player view of how every Tennessee football alum did.
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DE Derek Barnett – Texans
- At UT: 2014-16
- Years in NFL: 9
- at Rams, 14-9 L
- 1 tackle
DT Matthew Butler – Dolphins
- At UT: 2017-21
- Years in NFL: 4
- at Colts, 33-8 L
- 2 tackles
- 2 solo
LS Morgan Cox – Titans
- At UT: 2005-09
- Years in NFL: 16
- at Broncos, 20-12 L
- Starting longsnapper
QB Josh Dobbs – Patriots
- At UT: 2013-16
- Years in NFL: 9
- vs. Raiders, 20-13 L
- DNP
CB Kamal Hadden – Packers
- At UT: 2021-23
- Years in NFL: 2
- DNP
WR Jalin Hyatt – Giants
- At UT: 2020-22
- Years in NFL: 3
- at Commanders, 21-6 L
- DNP
S Theo Jackson – Vikings
- At UT: 2017-21
- Years in NFL: 4
- at Bears, 27-24 W
- 4 tackles
- 3 solo
WR Jauan Jennings – 49ers
- At UT: 2015-19
- Years in NFL: 5
- at Seahawks, 17-13 L
- 2 receptions
- 16 yards
RB Velus Jones Jr. – Saints
- At UT: 2020-2021
- Years in NFL: 4
- vs. Cardinals, 20-13 L
- 2 kick returns
- 40 yards
RB Alvin Kamara – Saints
- At UT: 2015-16
- Years in NFL: 9
- vs. Cardinals, 20-13 L
- 11 carries
- 45 rushing yards
- 1 TD
- 2 receptions
- 12 receiving yards
AK finds the endzone. One smooth dude.
📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/8qDMvtRYxr
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) September 7, 2025
OG Cade Mays – Panthers
- At UT: 2020-21
- Years in NFL: 4
- at Jaguars, 26-10 L
- DNP
S Jaylen McCollough – Rams
- At UT: 2019-23
- Years in NFL: 2
- vs. Texans, 14-9 W
- 3 tackles
- 1 sack
- 1 TFL
- 1 QBH
Tank got there quick! 🏎️#NFLVols | #GBO🍊
📺 NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube
pic.twitter.com/VOWVFu05YY— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) September 7, 2025
QB Joe Milton III – Cowboys
- At UT: 2021-23
- Years in NFL: 2
- at Eagles, 24-20 L
- DNP
DT Omarr Norman-Lott – Chiefs
- At UT: 2023-24
- Years in NFL: 1
- vs. Chargers (Brazil), 27-21 L
- DNP (ankle injury)
WR Josh Palmer – Bills
- At UT: 2017-20
- Years in NFL: 5
- vs. Ravens, 41-40 W
- 5 receptions
- 61 yards
OLB James Pearce Jr. – Falcons
- At UT: 2022-24
- Years in NFL: 1
- vs. Buccaneers, 23-20 L
- 1 QBH
RB Dylan Sampson – Browns
- At UT: 2022-24
- Years in NFL: 1
- vs. Bengals, 17-16 L
- 12 carries
- 29 rushing yards
- 8 receptions
- 64 receiving yards
OG Trey Smith – Chiefs
- At UT: 2017-20
- Years in NFL: 5
- vs. Chargers (Brazil), 27-21 L
- Started at RG
- 61 snaps
- 58.7 PFF grade
CB Alontae Taylor – Saints
- At UT: 2018-21
- Years in NFL: 4
- vs. Cardinals, 20-13 L
- 2 tackles
- 1 solo
- 1 sack
- 1 TFL
- 1 QBH
ALONTAEEEEEEEEE YOU DAWG
📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/1KsWYhq8GZ
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) September 7, 2025
OLB Darrell Taylor – Texans
- At UT: 2015-19
- Years in NFL: 5
- at Rams, 14-9 L
- 1 tackle
- 1 solo
WR Dont’e Thornton Jr. – Raiders
- At UT: 2023-24
- Years in NFL: 1
- at Patriots, 20-13 W
- 2 receptions
- 45 yards
Dont’e Thornton Jr. absolutely cooked Carlton Davis on this double move
He is a DANGEROUS deep threat. You can’t guard him 1v1 like this.
6’5” and runs a 4.3 40 yard dash… pic.twitter.com/S7z4hqwdLH
— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) September 8, 2025
WR Cedric Tillman – Browns
- At UT: 2018-22
- Years in NFL: 3
- vs. Bengals, 17-16 L
- 5 receptions
- 52 yards
- 1 TD
Ced with the score 😤#NFLVols | #GBO🍊
📺 NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube
pic.twitter.com/qxlI1kIoSi— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) September 7, 2025
DT Shy Tuttle – Titans
- At UT: 2015-18
- Years in NFL: 7
- DNP
OT Darnell Wright – Bears
- At UT: 2019-22
- Years in NFL: 3
- vs. Vikings, 27-24 L
- Started at RT
- 66 snaps
- 77.9 PFF grade (Team offensive high)
RB Jaylen Wright – Dolphins
- At UT: 2021-23
- Years in NFL: 2
- at Colts, 33-8 L
- DNP (Knee injury)
OLB Byron Young – Rams
- At UT: 2021-22
- Years in NFL: 3
- vs. Texans, 14-9 W
- 9 tackles
- 5 solo
- 1 sack
- 1 TFL
- 2 QBH
Gonna be a long year in Houston. Both tackles end up getting walked back, great rushes by both Byron Young (#0) and Verse (#8) pic.twitter.com/NiFuBh9R1J
— JP Acosta (@acosta32_jp) September 9, 2025
