Kamal Hadden declares for 2024 NFL Draft, thanks Tennessee fans
Tennessee defensive back Kamal Hadden has officially declared for the 2024 NFL Draft, announcing his decision on social media while issuing a statement thanking Tennessee fans.
He’s the second Tennessee player to declare for the NFL Draft, following junior running back Jaylen Wright, who announced his decision on Friday afternoon.
Hadden, who suffered a season-ending injury in October, teased on social media last week that he may have another year of eligibility. But a Tennessee spokesperson confirmed at the time that Hadden was out of eligibility and was unable to get another year.
Here’s what Hadden said while announcing his NFL Draft decision:
Vol Nation,
Thank you for the past 3 incredible years. It was a privilege to pay for the University of Tennessee. I want to thank all my coaches for their guidance, support and for pushing me to grow both on and off the field. Thanks you to my mom and family for being there for me each and everyday. I will continue to do everything I can to make you all proud.
With all of this being said, I will be entering my name into the 2024 NFL Draft.
Thank you Vol Nation. It’s been an honor to play in front of you and you will always be part of my journey.
Kamal Hadden
Hadden was lost for the season after suffering a shoulder injury in Tennessee’s loss at Alabama in October.
He was having the best season of his Tennessee career before the injury, recording 19 tackles, intercepting three passes and breaking up eight more over seven games.
According to Pro Football Focus stats, Hadden allowed 12 receptions on 33 targets this season with six passes broken up and the three interceptions. He was called for just two penalties in the seven games.
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Hadden came to Tennessee after previous stops at Independence Community College in Kansas and at Auburn.
Kamal Hadden’s at Tennessee: 87 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 6 INTs, 12 passes defended
Over the last three seasons he has 87 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, six interceptions, 18 passes defended and two forced fumbles.
In his first season at Tennessee in 2021, Hadden had 17 tackles in seven games, with 2.0 tackles for loss and an interception. He had 30 tackles over nine games in 2022, with two interception and three passes defended.
Hadden in the days following the loss at Alabama posted on social media saying he had undergone season-ending surgery:
I put everything I had in it. Just to get right this last round, Learning how to not always be right, but also Learning how to be right and still make correction to be even better. Learning it’s a right way and it’s a wrong way to situations. I was stuck in my ways for a long time thinking I had all the answers. With time I learned change is a part of growing, and you gotta sacrifice to grow.
I was just getting comfortable, the work was just starting to show, I was showing the world what I already knew. My last year, my bag year, and I strike out.. I feel like I let everybody down. The fam, gang, the team, everybody.
But I always took the longer route, I always was in a fight with adversity, I always had it a lil harder, I always wanted it a lil tougher cause at the end the win a lil more greater … I’ll be having season ending surgery this morning. The get back start now.
