Tennessee football: Ranking Vols by landing spots after 2021 NFL Draft

Tennessee defensive back Bryce Thompson (0) warms up before a game between Tennessee and Kentucky at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020.101720 Tenn Ky Pregame
Tennessee defensive back Bryce Thompson (0) warms up before a game between Tennessee and Kentucky at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020.101720 Tenn Ky Pregame
2 of 5
Sep 1, 2018; Charlotte, NC, USA; Tennessee Volunteers offensive lineman Brandon Kennedy (55) prepares to snap the ball in the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 1, 2018; Charlotte, NC, USA; Tennessee Volunteers offensive lineman Brandon Kennedy (55) prepares to snap the ball in the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Undrafted/Unsigned

We waited a while specifically because of Brandon Kennedy. The expectation was that he would not go drafted but would be signed with a team. Well, the 6’3″ 300-pound center hasn’t even signed with a team. Not signing anywhere would obviously mean that you had the worst landing spot after the NFL Draft, and Kennedy is in that situation.

It’s unfair to a degree. Kennedy suffered two season-ending injuries in college, which is why he got a sixth year of eligibility, but he was a reliable and elite center for Tennessee football his final two years on Rocky Top. He was also fully healthy during that time.

Once a four-star prospect in the 2015 class out of Wetumpka, Ala., Kennedy transferred to the Vols after three seasons with the Alabama Crimson Tide. His arrival coincided with Jeremy Pruitt’s, but he suffered a season-ending injury his first game as a Vol back in 2018.

Still, upon his return in 2019, he became an anchor up front. He has proven enough that he deserved a look, and maybe he’ll still get one, but not signing with anybody two weeks later is a bad situation no matter how you spin it. As a result, we have to keep him down here.