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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 defensive back Kamal Hadden (13) runs onto the field at the 2021 TransPerfect Music City Bowl between Tennessee and Purdue at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., on Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021.Bowl Cm 1230
Tennessee defensive back Kamal Hadden (13) runs onto the field at the 2021 TransPerfect Music City Bowl between Tennessee and Purdue at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., on Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021.Bowl Cm 1230 /

839. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Redshirt junior. player. Defensive back. Kamal Hadden. 8

6’1″ 190 pounds

Initially a junior college commit to the Auburn Tigers last year out of Independence Community College in Kansas, Kamal Hadden followed Kevin Steele to Tennessee football as a transfer and then stayed there when Josh Heupel took over. The Michigan kid immediately became a second-string cornerback and brings a ton of promise this year.

A graduate of River Rouge High School just outside of Detroit but still in Wayne County, Mich., Hadden showed his skills in 2019, his one year of JuCo in Montgomery County, Kan., where he had an interception, a tackle for a loss, three forced fumbles, eight pass breakups and 21 total tackles, nine of which were solo. He played 10 games.

This past year for the Vols, Hadden had an interception, a pass deflection, a forced fumble, two tackles for a loss and 17 tackles, 13 of which were solo, all as a reserve. He emerged as the starting cornerback opposite Warren Burrell in the Music City Bowl against the Purdue Boilermakers after Alontae Taylor opted out to focus on the NFL Draft.

Although UT struggled in that game, Hadden actually made lots of great plays. He should be in line to start again this year despite missing spring ball, and although there’s a lot of competition, he’s ahead of the curve. Just starting by nature given the experience should allow him a chance to turn pro early.

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