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Tennessee football’s 10 underclassmen most likely to leave early for 2023 NFL Draft

By Caleb Calhoun

Dec 30, 2021; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Jabari Small (2) runs the ball against the Purdue Boilermakers during the second half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2021; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Jabari Small (2) runs the ball against the Purdue Boilermakers during the second half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tennessee wide receiver Jimmy Calloway (9) misses a pass resulting in a turnover on downs during an NCAA football game against Florida at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Florida on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021.Tennflorida0925 1944
Tennessee wide receiver Jimmy Calloway (9) misses a pass resulting in a turnover on downs during an NCAA football game against Florida at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Florida on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021.Tennflorida0925 1944 /

Nobody from Tennessee football left early for the NFL Draft this past year. Cedric Tillman is probably the one player who could have done so. Others who could have gone but decided to come back, like Hendon Hooker, were seniors last year anyway, so it’s not the same as an underclassman leaving for the draft.

Anyway, Tillman and Hooker are both seniors now, so what about the underclassmen next year? With the 2022 NFL Draft in the books, there’s a lot of excitement about how deep the 2023 class could be coming off of Josh Heupel’s second year on the job. That may include underclassmen.

This post will look at redshirt juniors or younger based on their chances of entering the draft next year. Seniors who could come back with another year of eligibility don’t count. They also can’t be younger than a redshirt sophomore due to NFL eligibility rules. Here are Tennessee football’s 10 underclassmen most likely to leave early for the 2023 NFL Draft.

Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Jimmy Calloway. player. Wide receiver. Redshirt sophomore. 10. 839

6’0″ 190 pounds

He didn’t see a lot of action last year, and he’s a lot of competition for playing time this year, but Jimmy Calloway could be in prime position to emerge as a major playmaker. It’s between him, Jimmy Holiday and Marquarius “Squirrel” White. One of them should take the vacant slot receiver spot as Velus Jones Jr.’s replacement.

Among all those players, Calloway has the most experience. The lack of competition from experienced gives the graduate of Morrow High School in Clayton County, Ga., who caught five passes for 84 yards and a touchdown last year, a great chance.

A huge touchdown run against the Pittsburgh Panthers showed Calloway’s elite skill with the ball in his hands. He seems primed to step right in and become Tennessee football’s main slot receiver. Since it’ll be his third year in the program, he’ll be eligible for the pros after this year, and based on what little we have seen, he could put on enough of a show to leave.

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