NFL Draft: Watch Vols WR Jauan Jennings’ emotional reaction

Despite having to wait, Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Jauan Jennings was overjoyed at being taken by the San Francisco 49ers in the NFL Draft.

His projections in the NFL Draft ranged from going in the third round to going on the seventh round. Most picks had former Tennessee football wide receiver Jauan Jennings going in the sixth round. However, on Saturday, he had to wait until the seventh round.

Jennings was taken by the San Francisco 49ers with the 217th overall pick, joining former Vols Emmanuel Moseley, Jalen Hurd and Jonathan Kongbo, all of whom were teammates of his at one point. Moseley and Kongbo were both undrafted free agents, and Moseley became a started on last year’s team that made the Super Bowl.

The reaction Jennings had to being taken in the NFL Draft was one that, while predictable to anybody who knew him, was still worthy of watching. Jennings showed the same emotion he always had on the football field as a leader for Rocky Top. This time, he was celebrating with his family, and the video was posted on an Instagram story and then put on Twitter.

Emotions of the draft are always high, particularly for people who are taken late. As a result, it was a great story, and anybody following Rocky Top who knows about what Jennings dealt with in college only appreciates it further.

More from All for Tennessee

• How to Win a GUARANTEED $200 Bonus Betting Just $5 on the Vols vs. Florida!
• Tennessee Football at Florida: Five Keys to a Vols Victory
• Week 3 SEC Power Rankings: Did Tennessee Football’s Win Help At All?
• Week 3 AP Polls: Why Did Tennessee Football Drop in the Polls?
• Tennessee Football: Top Five Performers in 30-13 Win vs. Austin Peay

Remember, Jennings committed in 2015 as a four-star quarterback. He willingly converted to wide receiver as a freshman, proving to be a team player. Then, in 2016, he worked his way up to the No. 2 receiver, catching the go-ahead touchdown pass in the win over the Florida Gators and the Hail Mary touchdown pass in the win over the Georgia Bulldogs.

However, in 2017, Jennings’ rocky road began. He got a marijuana citation in February. Then he suffered a season-ending injury in the opener. It ended with him being dismissed from the team, by an interim coaching staff, only to have to work his way to reinstatement by Jeremy Pruitt when he took over.

After being reinstated, Jennings then had to get back into football shape, and it didn’t show until midway through the year, when he caught the go-ahead touchdown reception in UT’s upset win at the Auburn Tigers. But he didn’t return to form until this past year, and that’s where he showed his greatness on the field.

There were still a couple of roadblocks, including his suspension in the first half of the Gator Bowl and his 40-time. However, Jennings had more than proven himself and had a great advocate in Pruitt, and that continued until the day of the draft. Pruitt never stopped praising him.

Waiting was just Jennings’ final roadblock, as he ended up in a great situation, with a team that needs a big receiver and one that has taken a chance on former Vols before. Looking at all of that, you can see why he poured his emotion into the pick. He earned it.