Since Tennessee football coach Josh Heupel took over the program, he’s had a pair of first-round selections in four years. Darnell Wright was picked No. 10 in 2023 and James Pearce Jr. went at No. 26 in 2025. However, in 2026, the Vols could hear four players’ names called in the first round alone.
According to the most recent mock draft from PFF, a quartet of Tennessee players will be taken within the opening 32 picks. The first of the group selected is Colton Hood. The corner has had a breakout season and is placed as the No. 17 pick in the mock draft to the Los Angeles Rams. This would team him up with former Heupel-Era Vols Byron Young and Jaylen McCollough on defense.
“… Now at Tennessee, he’s been one of the FBS’ more impactful players at that position,” PFF wrote. “At 6-foot and 195 pounds, he has good size for the position with good explosiveness as well. He’s earned a 78.2 coverage grade this season with seven forced incompletions and two interceptions. He has the all-around game to play in press and off coverage alignments.”
Next in the mock draft is wide receiver Chris Brazzell. The breakout receiver is trending toward being one of the top players at the position in the draft, but a rough game against double coverage against Arkansas has seen him slip a bit. PFF recognized that he may not end up as a first-rounder, but has him slotted at No. 24 to the Seattle Seahawks at this point.
“I do not know if Brazzell will be a first-rounder when it’s all said and done, but I can tell you he’s looked like one through this 2025 season,” PFF wrote. “At 6-foot-5 and 200 pounds, he has rare explosiveness and one-cut ability paired with a frame and length that is reminiscent of Martavis Bryant…”
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Right behind Brazzell at pick No. 25 is cornerback Jermod McCoy. Although he is yet to play this year after suffering an off-season ACL tear, he’s still considered a likely first-round option and possibly the best corner in this cycle. In this mock, he’s headed to New England to play for the Patriots.
“If McCoy were draft-eligible last season, he would have been a first-round pick,” PFF wrote. “On 393 coverage snaps, he earned an 89.6 coverage grade in addition to 13 forced completions and four interceptions. At 6-foot and 195 pounds, he is an experienced and talented press-man cornerback…”
The final Vol in the first-round mock is edge rusher Joshua Josephs. He plays the same position that Pearce, a first-rounder a year ago, and Young, a star for the Rams, played at UT under Heupel. This mock draft has him at No. 27 to the San Francisco 49ers.
“… Joseph(s), at 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds, has very long arms that he uses as the baseline for an impactful pass-rush profile, which has yielded a 90.8 pass-rush grade and a 21.5% pass-rush win rate,” PFF wrote. “His game is also more well-rounded this season, posting a 75.7 run-defense grade as an outside linebacker-type of edge defender.”
While McCoy is still inactive, Hood, Brazzell and Josephs all have the chance to improve their draft stock this weekend. The Vols will play in a marquee matchup in Tuscaloosa against Alabama. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. ET and will air on ABC.
