They’ll be looking to show out in front of NFL brass.
Tennessee Football will send six players to the 2025 NFL Combine this season, which is once again set to be held in Indianapolis. 329 prospects were announced by the league on Thursday, each with an opportunity to have official weigh-ins and athletic testing times in front of league executives.
Tennessee’s contingent is headlines by edge rusher James Pearce, who is expected to come off of the board some time in round one. Pearce has slid through his junior season with a fall in sack production, but this week is a chance to reverse that. The 6-5, 243 pound pass rusher has elite speed and get off, but teams might be concerned with his lighter frame holding up on every down.
The Volunteers will also send record-smashing running back Dylan Sampson to Indianapolis, where he will look to stand out among a loaded class. Sampson was Tennessee’s workhorse in 2024, running for 1,491 yards. He battled injuries late in the season, but his toughness and homerun hitting ability should be back on display at the NFL Combine.
Disruptive defensive lineman Omarr Norman-Lott will also be in attendance after a solid showing during Senior Bowl week. The former Arizona State Sun Devil came to Tennessee to work with Rodney Garner, and that work is certainly paying off. Norman-Lott put up 9.5 sacks in two seasons with the Volunteers — an impressive number for an interior guy.
Big Elijah Simmons will also be in Indy looking to prove himself as a potential early down run defender. This one was somewhat of a surprise, being that Simmons hasn’t appeared in any mock drafts to this point.
Finally, receivers Bru McCoy and Dont’e Thornton received invites. Tennessee’s passing game was down in 2024, but both guys clearly have some ability. Thornton has shown flashes of big-play ability working down the field, and a 6-5 frame certainly doesn’t hurt.
McCoy will an interesting situation. At 6-3, 230 pounds, might he get a look at tight end? McCoy was a power player during his time at Tennessee, spending plenty of time as a blocker on the perimeter, along with handling screens.
The NFL Combine will get rolling on Thursday, February 27th and go through March 2nd. NFL Network will have the coverage.