KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – For the second consecutive NFL Draft, Tennessee football wide receivers are making an impact.
VFL Josh Palmer became the latest as the Los Angeles Chargers selected him with the No. 77 overall pick in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft on Friday night.
The Brampton, Ontario, native capped the best season of his career with an impressive offseason that included a 2021 Senior Bowl and NFL Combine invite. He garnered attention in Mobile with his skill set and work ethic.
Palmer concluded his Tennessee career with 99 catches for 1,514 yards and seven scores, averaging 15.3 yards per catch. He notched 16 catches of 25 or more yards. The 2020 season saw Palmer lead the Vols in receiving yards (475), receptions (33) and receiving touchdowns (4).
Palmer joins his former wide receiver teammates Jauan Jennings and Marquez Callaway at the next level. Jennings was selected in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers, while Callaway made an immediate impact as an undrafted free agent with the New Orleans Saints. Callaway caught 21 passes for 213 yards and was a force on special teams during his rookie season.
The 2021 NFL Draft concludes Saturday with rounds four through seven beginning at noon ET. ESPN, NFL Network and ABC will broadcast it live.
2021 NFL Draft Notables
- Josh Palmer became the 39th Vol wide receiver all-time to be selected in the NFL Draft.
- At least one Vol wide receiver has been selected in back-to-back NFL Drafts. The first three wide receivers on the field in Tennessee’s 2020 TaxSlayer Bowl victory – Palmer, Marquez Callaway (New Orleans Saints) and Jauan Jennings (San Francisco 49ers) – are now all in the NFL.
- Palmer became the 12th Vol to be taken by the Chargers organization all-time and the first since Jonathan Crompton went in the fifth round (pick 168) in 2010.
- A total of 373 Vols have been selected in the NFL Draft all-time (dates back to 1936, includes AFL merger).
-UT Athletics
