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Tennessee football’s top 10 NFL Draft prospects for 2023

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee wide receiver Cedric Tillman (4) warming up before the start of an NCAA college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, September 18, 2021.Utvtech0917
Tennessee wide receiver Cedric Tillman (4) warming up before the start of an NCAA college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, September 18, 2021.Utvtech0917 /
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Tennessee defensive back Jaylen McCollough (22) during a game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021.Kns Tennessee Florida Football
Tennessee defensive back Jaylen McCollough (22) during a game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021.Kns Tennessee Florida Football /

Senior. Jaylen McCollough. 9. player. Scouting Report. Defensive back. 839. Pick Analysis

6’0″ 205 pounds

A two and a half year starter for Tennessee football, Jaylen McCollough has had his issues. Largely, coverage has been a weakness for him. However, the graduate of Hillgrove High School in Powder Springs, Ga., who is actually from Austell, Ga., which is still in Cobb Count outside of Atlanta, has other selling points that will make NFL scouts love him.

First off, McCollough had a team-leading three interceptions last year. That was another element added to his game as the Vols’ strong safety given the fact that he didn’t have any his first two years on Rocky Top. It can shield the coverage concerns that should be there.

At the same time, McCollough is a very physical safety. That was his selling point when he stepped in at free safety due to an injury in 2019, and he has nine tackles for a loss and two sacks for his career. Last year, he registers three and a half tackles for a loss, a sack, a forced fumble and 49 tackles, 35 of which were solo.

The combination of those two things will get McCollough plenty of looks from NFL scouts, but if he can become a consistently elite coverage safety, which involves containing quarterbacks, he’ll shoot up this list. He has a year of eligibility after 2022, but improving in coverage would make it so he doesn’t need to use it.

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