Tennessee football: Top 10 former Vols in the NFL for 2019

Now it’s time to look at a few overachievers who made it high on this list. The first one is Justin Coleman. Joining the group of undrafted guys from Tennessee football to become regular everyday players, Coleman was an underdog. He was signed and released by the Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks in 2015 before settling with the Patriots.

In two years with the Pats, Coleman emerged as a very reliable player at nickel and helped them win a Super Bowl in 2016-2017. Then he went back to the Seahawks, were he spent 2017 and 2018. He had two pick-sixes in 2017 and two fumble recoveries, one for a touchdown, in 2018. Being all over the field like that has now gotten him rewarded.

Coleman inked a four-year $36 million deal with the Detroit Lions in the offseason. He is now the highest-paid nickel in the pros, joining Ja’Wuan James as the highest-paid offensive tackle. So now he’s got major expectations, but what’s clear is the fact that he’s one of the greatest overachievers in the NFL today.

As a playmaker with three defensive touchdowns, two fumble recoveries, three interceptions and two sacks over the past two years, Coleman is a very versatile player. Now, at age 26, he can really enter his prime and become a star. That’s what we’re expecting from him, which is why he’s so high on this list.