Senior Bowl Updates: Tennessee Vols Measurements, Highlights, and Intel

The Senior Bowl is one of the most highly anticipated events for college football prospects, providing players an opportunity to showcase their skills for NFL scouts and coaches. This year’s Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, was no different, with Tennessee Volunteers players looking to impress on the national stage. As always, the game provided an excellent platform for players to highlight their talents, skills, and football IQ, with many hoping to elevate their draft stock ahead of the NFL Combine and Draft. In this article, we take a closer look at the Tennessee Vols’ key players, their measurements, notable performances, and the vital intel gleaned from their time at the Senior Bowl.

The Senior Bowl and Its Importance

Before diving into the specifics of the Tennessee Vols’ participants, it’s important to understand the significance of the Senior Bowl. The event, typically held in late January, brings together some of the best senior college players from across the country, allowing them to practice and compete in front of NFL coaches, scouts, and general managers. The game itself features two teams: the North and the South, with participants divided based on geographic location. This year’s event saw the South team, with a mix of players from the SEC, ACC, and other conferences, take on the North team, which featured players from the Big Ten, Pac-12, and others.

In addition to the game itself, the week of practices leading up to the event is often just as crucial, if not more important. Coaches and scouts are able to see how players handle different drills, adjust to pro-style offenses and defenses, and interact with their teammates. The Senior Bowl is often the final opportunity for players to demonstrate their skills before the NFL Draft, making it a highly scrutinized event.

Tennessee Vols: Key Participants at the Senior Bowl

This year, the Tennessee Volunteers had several players chosen to participate in the Senior Bowl, with standout prospects hoping to make an impression. Let’s take a closer look at the measurements, performances, and evaluations of Tennessee’s top participants:

1. Hendon Hooker – Quarterback

One of the biggest stories surrounding Tennessee’s involvement in the Senior Bowl was the participation of quarterback Hendon Hooker. After a stellar 2022 season that saw him emerge as a legitimate Heisman candidate and lead Tennessee to an Orange Bowl victory, Hooker was one of the most intriguing quarterbacks at the event.

Measurements:

• Height: 6’3″
• Weight: 217 lbs
• Arm Length: 32 inches
• Hand Size: 9 5/8 inches

Hooker’s size and athleticism immediately stood out. His physical frame is more than suitable for the NFL, and his ability to move within the pocket adds to his potential as a dual-threat quarterback.

Highlights and Intel: Despite recovering from an ACL injury that ended his season early, Hooker showcased his remarkable football IQ and leadership throughout the Senior Bowl week. During practices, he displayed impressive accuracy and touch on short to intermediate throws, particularly on slant routes and out patterns. One of Hooker’s strengths is his ability to read defenses and make quick decisions, a skill he demonstrated repeatedly during team drills.

Although he wasn’t able to show off his signature speed in terms of scrambling due to his injury recovery, Hooker still impressed coaches with his command of the offense and his natural leadership on the field. Hooker’s stock remains strong, and many scouts expect him to be a Day 2 draft pick, with his potential further enhanced by his work ethic and determination to recover fully from his ACL injury.

2. Jalin Hyatt – Wide Receiver

After a breakout season in 2022 in which he won the Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation’s top wide receiver, Jalin Hyatt was one of the most anticipated participants at the Senior Bowl. His combination of speed, route-running, and deep-threat capability made him a top prospect entering the event.

Measurements:

• Height: 6’0″
• Weight: 185 lbs
• Arm Length: 31 1/2 inches
• Hand Size: 9 inches

Hyatt’s slight frame and impressive speed had scouts salivating, especially after his dominant performances in SEC play, where he often torched opposing defenses with his blazing speed.

Highlights and Intel: During Senior Bowl practices, Hyatt showcased his exceptional ability to separate from defenders with his top-end speed. His deep routes were crisp, and he displayed solid hands, making acrobatic catches along the sideline and on deep post routes. He also showed improved strength in contested situations, which was something that had been a question mark coming into the week.

Hyatt’s ability to create separation and track the ball downfield was on full display, and he left no doubt that he can be an explosive playmaker at the next level. Scouts were particularly impressed with his work ethic and how he took coaching on route precision. If there were any concerns about his ability to translate to the NFL, they were mostly about his slight frame and whether he could handle the physicality of professional cornerbacks. However, Hyatt’s performance at the Senior Bowl helped to alleviate some of those concerns, and his draft stock remains high, with many projecting him as a mid-to-late first-round pick.

3. Darnell Wright – Offensive Tackle

Darnell Wright’s rise as one of the top offensive tackles in the 2023 NFL Draft class has been well-documented. The 6’5″, 333-pound lineman was a consistent force on Tennessee’s offensive line and has long been regarded as a physical and technical standout.

Measurements:

• Height: 6’5″
• Weight: 333 lbs
• Arm Length: 35 1/4 inches
• Hand Size: 10 1/8 inches

Wright’s measurements are ideal for an NFL offensive tackle, and his ability to move defenders in the run game while protecting his quarterback in pass protection makes him a coveted prospect.

Highlights and Intel: At the Senior Bowl, Wright quickly made an impression with his sheer size and physicality. He dominated in one-on-one drills, frequently winning battles against some of the nation’s top edge rushers. His footwork was smooth for a player of his size, and he showed a powerful punch at the line of scrimmage that neutralized defenders in both the run and passing game. Wright’s ability to anchor and absorb power rushes made him a standout during practices, and he was able to showcase his pass-blocking technique against elite competition.

Wright’s strength and durability are clear assets, and his consistency throughout the week was impressive. Many scouts believe he has the potential to be an NFL starting tackle on either side of the line. As a result, Wright’s draft stock only increased after the Senior Bowl, and he is now widely projected as a first-round pick.

4. Byron Young – Edge Rusher

Byron Young was another Tennessee standout at the Senior Bowl, coming off a solid career as a pass rusher for the Volunteers. Known for his explosive first step and ability to disrupt plays in the backfield, Young entered the Senior Bowl with the intent to prove he could handle NFL-caliber competition.

Measurements:

• Height: 6’2″
• Weight: 250 lbs
• Arm Length: 33 inches
• Hand Size: 9 1/4 inches

Young’s size and frame are typical for an NFL edge rusher, and he showed a great deal of potential throughout his time at Tennessee.

Highlights and Intel: Young showcased his burst off the line of scrimmage during one-on-one drills, often getting the better of offensive linemen with his speed and technique. He used a combination of quickness, power, and hand placement to win battles in pass-rush situations. Scouts were particularly impressed with his ability to convert speed into power, an essential trait for edge rushers at the next level. While Young still has room to improve in terms of developing a wider variety of pass-rush moves, his potential was clear throughout Senior Bowl week. Many scouts now view Young as a promising Day 2 pick, with the upside to develop into a key contributor on an NFL defense.

Tennessee Vols’ Impact and Senior Bowl Takeaways

The performances of Hendon Hooker, Jalin Hyatt, Darnell Wright, and Byron Young solidified Tennessee’s presence at the Senior Bowl, and all four players are now considered solid prospects for the NFL Draft. Tennessee’s rise in the SEC over the past few years is being reflected in the individual success of its players, with many now transitioning to professional football.

Hooker’s Leadership and Potential: Despite his injury, Hooker’s leadership and decision-making were evident throughout the week. NFL teams are eager to see how he performs once fully recovered, and he remains a potential future starter in the right system.

Hyatt’s Explosiveness: Hyatt demonstrated that he is more than just a deep-ball specialist, and his ability to work on his route tree and physicality should make him a target for teams in need of a playmaking wide receiver.

Wright’s Consistency: Wright’s performance reassured scouts that he is a complete offensive lineman capable of stepping in and making an immediate impact at the next level. His size and strength alone should make him an early-round pick.

Young’s Upside: Young’s ability to disrupt opposing offenses with his raw athleticism was one of the Senior Bowl’s biggest takeaways, and NFL teams will be watching his development closely.

As the NFL Draft draws closer, the Senior Bowl has proven to be an invaluable showcase for Tennessee’s prospects, giving scouts a closer look at the future stars of the NFL. The Vols’ players performed admirably and will surely be names to remember when their respective names are called on draft day.