KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Four Tennessee Vols –- defensive lineman Matthew Butler, wide receiver Velus Jones Jr., offensive lineman Cade Mays and defensive back Alontae Taylor — have officially received invites to the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine to be held March 1-7 in Indianapolis.
A total of 324 prospects have been invited to the combine, including 82 from the Southeastern Conference. All four Tennessee players participated in all-star games last week.
Butler received significant praise from NFL scouts last week at the East-West Shrine Game in Las Vegas. A five-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll and recipient of the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, Butler collected 152 total tackles, 16 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks during his career. In 2021, he led all UT defensive linemen in tackles with 47, while ranking fourth on the squad in tackles for loss (8.5) and third in sacks (5).
In his two seasons in Knoxville, Mays played 971 offensive snaps and started all 17 games he played in. The 2021 second-team All-SEC recipient started in last week’s Reese’s Senior Bowl and can play every position on the line. This season, he played in 493 snaps and was a two-time SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week recipient.
Jones Jr., the 2021 SEC Co-Special Teams Player of the Year, led all players in receptions at the Reese’s Senior Bowl with four. A first-team All-SEC selection, he caught 62 passes – 10th in school history – for 807 yards and 10 touchdowns this past fall. He ranked second in the SEC in all-purpose yards per game (132.5), while his 1,722 total all-purpose yards in 2021 was second all-time in UT annals.
Taylor, a former wide receiver, registered an interception in last week’s Senior Bowl. In 45 career games with the Vols, he tallied 162 tackles, four interceptions, 19 passes defended and three forced fumbles. He notched two picks, including one for a touchdown, in helping lead the Vols to a seven-win regular season.
The four Tennessee representatives will seek to improve their resumes at the NFL Combine. The three-day NFL Draft gets underway April 28 in Las Vegas.
-UT Athletics
