All for Tennessee
Fansided

Tennessee football: Draft grades for every Vol selected since 2017

By Dean Zulkofske

PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 21: Derek Barnett #96 of the Philadelphia Eagles looks on prior to the game against the Carolina Panthers at Lincoln Financial Field on October 21, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 21: Derek Barnett #96 of the Philadelphia Eagles looks on prior to the game against the Carolina Panthers at Lincoln Financial Field on October 21, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
11 of 11
Next
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – OCTOBER 25: Alvin Kamara #41 of the New Orleans Saints runs with the ball against the Carolina Panthers during a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on October 25, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – OCTOBER 25: Alvin Kamara #41 of the New Orleans Saints runs with the ball against the Carolina Panthers during a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on October 25, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

Scouting Report. Running Back. 1. Alvin Kamara. player. 15. Pick Analysis. 2017 Round 3 No. 67

Draft Grade: A++

Tennessee football fans knew Alvin Kamara was under-utilized by Butch Jones in the two years he spent on Rocky Top, but could anyone have predicted the player he is today? Over time, Cameron Sutton has proved himself as a steal from the 2017 NFL Draft class. Kamara proved he was the steal in year one.

More from All for Tennessee

Kamara posted 1,554 total yards in 16 games with the Saints as a rookie, reaching the end zone 16 times and earning 2017 NFL Offensive rookie of the year honors in the process. Last season was the best of his career, though, as the Norcross, Ga. native totaled 1,688 yards from scrimmage with 21 touchdowns over 15 games.

Taking note of Kamara’s revered dominance with the ball in his hands, New Orleans inked the former UT back to a five-year contract worth $75 million; $33.8 million guaranteed. A player that was once sharing carries behind Jalen Hurd in Knoxville is now a paragon for running backs in the NFL and is showing no signs of slowing down.

The former JuCo product is not only the best UT alum taken in the NFL Draft in recent memory, but he is also quickly becoming one of the great steals in NFL Draft history. Kamara has also changed the way NFL GMs draft running backs, which in and of itself, is incredible.

Next. Vols' top 25 single-game performances. dark

For now, fans can only guess where the four up-and-coming Tennessee football draft prospects would fit into this list years from now. But if this list is an indication of anything, it’s that Rocky Top has provided the NFL with elite talent, even throughout some of the school’s most gruesome years on the field.

Home/Vols Football