Tennessee has always been a place where NFL stars are born. Peyton Manning, Reggie White, and Jason Witten are just a few of the names that jump off the page when you think of former Vols. With the NFL Draft around the corner, it looks like the Vols aren’t slowing down anytime soon, as they will have the potential to have three first-round picks. The Vols' presence in the league continues to be strong.
The 2025 NFL season has proven to be a successful one for Tennessee Vols alumni. Two former Tennessee football players have been balling out and were rewarded with Pro Bowl Selections.
Offensive lineman Trey Smith of the Kansas City Chiefs and linebacker Byron Young of the Los Angeles Rams, two former Vols, were announced as Pro Bowlers on Tuesday morning.
This season’s Pro Bowl linemen: pic.twitter.com/aUxBzWN4kA
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 23, 2025
🏈 NFL 2026 Pro Bowl defensive selections:
— SportswithSeb🏀🏈 (@Sportswithseb) December 23, 2025
Outside LBs
NFC: Brian Burns, Jared Verse, Byron Young
AFC: Nik Bonitto, Tuli Tuipulotu, T.J. Watt
Middle LBs
NFC: Zack Baun, Jack Campbell
AFC: Azeez Al-Shaair, Roquan Smith pic.twitter.com/xCBj61X541
Tennessee football has two former Vols in the Pro Bowl
This will be the third straight selection for Smith. In 2025, he registered a 70.6 grade from Pro Football Focus, allowing only one sack in 403 pass blocking attempts. He is a significant reason Patrick Mahomes is as good as he is. Without protection, a quarterback is useless, and having one of the best interior pass blockers in Kansas City has proven to be a major asset.
Byron Young made his first Pro Bowl team today. This season, Young has 72 tackles, 11 sacks, 10 TFLs, and a forced fumble. Young's emergence has been massive. The Rams are a Super Bowl contender this year, and their defense, along with an MVP-caliber year from Matt Stafford, has been prolific. Young has been a game-breaker and is now being rewarded.
Another Vol who has been killing it is the Atlanta Falcons' 2025 first-round pick, James Pearce Jr. Pearce has been one of the league's best young players. He has a real chance to win the Defensive Rookie of the Year award, but didn't receive a Pro Bowl selection.
With the transfer portal opening soon this is a great tool to show to recruits. If you come to Tennessee, this coaching staff will get you prepared for success in the pros. This is also something relevant to pitch to the class of 2027 recruits.
Tennessee’s influence on the NFL shows no signs of slowing down.