By Vince Ferrara / @VinceSports
Practice squads have been filled and there have been more moves in the NFL involving players from the University of Tennessee as the start of the 2021 season approaches Thursday night in my hometown of Tampa.
Here’s an updated list of University of Tennessee players in the National Football League, as well as players that were once at UT and other Knoxville area players.
Look for constant VFL in the NFL updates here on my blog “Vince’s View.” Bookmark my blog page and check back often.
Depth chart positions are from our friends at Ourlads NFL Scouting Services. As teams reveal their own “unofficial” depth charts, we’ll adjust those positions to what the teams list. Many haven’t done so yet for the season opener and the 53-player roster.
Transactions Since Rosters Were Cutdown to 53
VFLs
DB Nigel Warrior signed by Seahawks to 53-player roster
RB John Kelly signed to practice squad by Browns
DT Kendal Vickers signed to practice squad by Raiders
TE Ethan Wolf signed to practice squad by Saints
TE Luke Stocker released from 53-player roster by Titans
P Britton Colquitt released, resigned then released again by Vikings
DB Bryce Thompson released from IR by Saints
TE Alex Ellis added to IR then released by Raiders
Non-VFLs
RB Nathan Cottrell (local non-UT) signed to practice squad by Jaguars
OG Nathan Gilliam (local non-UT) signed to practice squad by Chargers
Notes and Numbers On UT Players
*19 U. of Tennessee players on final 53-player NFL rosters to start season
*2 rookie VFLs are currently on active rosters (T. Smith & J. Palmer)
*New Orleans has most current UT players on active rosters with 3
*WR & DL are the largest positions represented with 4
*14 of the 32 teams have a UT player on rosters
*There are 5 players that were once at U. of Tennessee but then transferred
*There are 4 players that didn’t attend UT, but have Knoxville/East TN ties
*5 players that went to high school in the Knoxville area are on current rosters (A. Rodgers, L. Smith, H. Smith, R. Cobb, T. Higgins)
Tennessee Volunteers On 53-Player NFL Rosters as of 9/4/21 (19)
x = Rookie
AFC East (3)
CB – Justin Coleman (27) Miami Dolphins – starting CB
P – Michael Palardy (5) Miami Dolphins – starting P
FB – Jakob Johnson (47) New England Patriots – starting FB
NONE – Buffalo Bills, New York Jets
AFC North (2)
DT – Malik Jackson (97) Cleveland Browns – starting LDT
DB – Cameron Sutton (20) Pittsburgh Steelers – starting RCB
NONE – Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals
AFC South (1)
LS – Morgan Cox (46) Tennessee Titans – starting LS
NONE – Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars
AFC West (3)
LB – Alexander Johnson (45) Denver Broncos – starting ILB
OL – Trey Smith (65) Kansas City Chiefs – x – starting RG
WR – Joshua Palmer (5) Los Angeles Chargers – x – backup WR
NONE – Las Vegas Raiders
NFC East (1)
DE – Derek Barnett (96) Philadelphia Eagles – starting RDE
NONE – Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Washington Redskins
NFC North (1)
LB – Jalen Reeves-Maybin (44) Detroit Lions – backup ILB
NONE – Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings
NFC South (4)
WR – Cordarrelle Patterson (84) Atlanta Falcons – backup WR & starting KR
RB – Alvin Kamara (41) New Orleans Saints – starting RB
DT – Shy Tuttle (99) New Orleans Saints – 3rd team NT
WR – Marquez Callaway (12) New Orleans Saints – starting WR
NONE – Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
NFC West (3)
CB – Emmanuel Moseley (41) San Francisco 49ers – backup LCB
WR – Jauan Jennings (15) San Francisco 49ers – 3rd team WR
DE – Darrell Taylor (52) Seattle Seahawks – starting LEO “DE-OLB”
DB – Nigel Warrior (39) Seattle Seahawks – 3rd team SS
NONE – Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams
Not on 53-Player Rosters – Reserve Lists (4)
TE – Jason Croom (81) Philadelphia Eagles
QB – Joshua Dobbs (5) Pittsburgh Steelers
OT – Ja’Wuan James (60) Baltimore Ravens
DE – Kyle Phillips (93) New York Jets
Not on 53-Player Rosters – Practice Squad Players (3)
RB – John Kelly (49) Cleveland Browns
DT – Kendal Vickers (95) Las Vegas Raiders
TE – Ethan Wolf (86) New Orleans Saints
UT Players In The NFL On 53-Player Rosters By Position (19)
QB – 0
RB – 1
WR – 4
TE – 0
FB – 1
OL – 1
DL – 4
LB – 2
DB – 4
P – 1
PK – 0
LS – 1
One-Time Vols That Transferred To Other Schools On NFL Rosters (5)
x = Rookie
TE – Lee Smith (85) Atlanta Falcons (Powell HS/U. of Tennessee/Marshall) – backup TE
P – Tommy Townsend (5) Kansas City Chiefs (U. of Tennessee/Florida) – starting P
QB – Nathan Peterman (3) Las Vegas Raiders (U. of Tennessee/Pitt) – 3rd team QB
WR – Preston Williams (18) Miami Dolphins (U. of Tennessee/Colorado St) – backup WR
WR – Jalen Hurd (14) San Francisco 49ers (U. of Tennessee/Baylor) – 3rd team WR
Active Knoxville Area Players That Didn’t Play At UT on NFL Rosters (4)
x = Rookie
WR – Tee Higgins (85) Cincinnati Bengals (Oak Ridge HS/Clemson) – starting SWR
WR – Amari Rodgers (8) Green Bay Packers (Catholic HS/Clemson) – x – 3rd team WR
WR – Randall Cobb (18) Green Bay Packers (Alcoa HS/Kentucky) – backup WR
S – Harrison Smith (22) Minnesota Vikings (Catholic HS/Notre Dame) – starting SS
Non-VFLs on Practice Squads (2)
RB – Nathan Cottrell (31) Jacksonville Jaguars
OG – Nathan Gilliam (65) Las Angeles Chargers
Find more of my broadcasting work at VinceSports.net
