NFL Combine: 7 Tennessee players land invites

Seven Tennessee players have been invited to the 2023 NFL Combine, the league announced Wednesday. That includes quarterback Hendon Hooker, linebacker Jeremy Banks and receivers Jalin Hyatt and Cedric Tillman.

The seven Volunteers are part of a total 319 players invited to the combine, which will take place in Indianapolis from Feb. 28 to March 6. Below is the full list of Tennessee invitees.

• LB Jeremy Banks
• P Paxton Brooks
• QB Hendon Hooker
• WR Jalin Hyatt
• WR Cedric Tillman
• OL Darnell Wright
• DL Byron Young

Hooker is coming off of an ACL tear in November, but said recently that he intends to be healthy by the start of NFL training camps in July. He spent the past two seasons with the Volunteers, throwing for a combined 58 touchdowns and just five interceptions in that span. He also rushed for 1,046 yards and 10 more scores.

Tillman served as Hooker’s leading receiver in the 2021 season, finishing with 64 catches for 1,081 yards and 12 touchdowns. Tillman played only six games in 2022 as he dealt with injuries, opening the door for Hyatt to emerge. The 6-footer led the Vols with 67 catches for 1,267 yards and 15 touchdowns, including a five-touchdown performance in Tennessee’s win against Alabama.

Banks had a breakout year in 2021, leading Tennessee and finishing seventh in the country with 128 tackles in addition to 5.5 sacks and one interception. He followed that up with 53 tackles and a forced fumble this past season.

Defensive end Byron Young is another potential high draft pick for Tennessee. The 6-foot-3, 240 pound lineman had 37 tackles (12 for loss) and seven sacks in 2022 and is projected to fall somewhere in the late second to early third rounds.

Tennessee finished the 2022 season with an 11-2 record, its best since 2001. The Volunteers ended their season with an Orange Bowl victory, and the future is bright for the program under Josh Heupel. It’s also bright for these seven Tennessee players, who will have a chance to climb their way up draft board at the NFL Combine as they hope to make pro rosters.