Dreams all across the country came true this weekend as prospects ranging from Power Five schools all the way into the D2 ranks were selected during the 2022 NFL Draft, including multiple guys who are from the great state of Tennessee. The Volunteer State was well represented in this year’s Draft where we saw nine total prospects drafted who played high school ball in this state and will now continue their football careers in the NFL. While several other states had more in-state prospects drafted, this was a solid showing for Tennessee and a benchmark to help push other current college and high school football players from this area to join these nine selected guys in the pro ranks one day. It all started off in the 1st round on Thursday night when the New England Patriots made a surprise selection by taking Chattanooga center/guard Cole Strange with the 29th overall pick. While taking Strange in the 1st round was a bit of a surprise, it wasn’t that huge as many NFL teams across the country were enamored with the Mocs interior lineman and had him pretty high on their boards. Strange is an East Tennessee native and graduate of Farragut High School that has a great chance at earning a starting role with the Patriots this season. One of the best running back prospects from this year’s draft hails from Tennessee and the greater Memphis area and he went early in the second round on Friday night. Michigan St. running back Kenneth Walker III was selected 41st overall by the Seattle Seahawks and the former Arlington High school star is headed to a good situation in the NFC West where he has a shot to run the ball a lot this season and eventually turn himself into a possible starter. Walker III is the kind of guy and talent that can develop into a big time run producer during his time in the NFL. Photo: usatoday.comThe first Middle Tennessee product was drafted next when the New Orleans Saints selected former Tennessee and Coffee Co. Central defensive back Alontae Taylor in the 2nd roundwith the 49th overall selection.A former 4-star recruit out of high school, Taylor had a very productive career with the Vols and showed a variety of talents in the secondary that should play well with the Saints. This is a feisty, competitive and athletic guy that should help carve out a significant role in training camp and find himself on the 2-deep for the Saints headed into the regular season. The state of Tennessee saw their next in-state selection come in the 4th round when the Pittsburgh Steelers selected speedster Calvin Austin III out of Memphis and this was a sneaky good pick by the AFC North team as this local product can run and do all sorts of things on the offensive side of the ball. Austin III is a Harding Academy graduate that had to walk-on at Memphis but made the most of his time with Tigers as he developed into a game breaking talent that led his team in receiving. The Tigers wideout is also a possible return man for the Steelers who plan to work him in the slot and add some serious speed to their offense. The second running back with in-state ties went selected next when the Minnesota Vikings took North Carolina and former Tennessee Vols back Ty Chandler with the 169th pick in the 5th round. During his recruiting class here in Tennessee, Chandler was one of the biggest names coming out of Montgomery Bell Academy when he was a high school senior that signed with the Vols and had three productive years before transferring to the Tar Heels for his last college season. Chandler is coming to a Minnesota team that likes to run the ball and he should be a solid compliment to Dalvin Cook in the Vikings backfield. The former Big Red running back will be given every chance to carve out a role and develop into a dependable back during his time in Minneapolis. The rest of the in-state selections came in the 6th round where we saw four former Tennessee high school players be selected and all four are talented prospects that should find a spot on their respective teams opening day rosters this Fall. Kicking things off in the 6th was the Dallas Cowboys when they took former Oklahoma St. linebacker Devin Harper with the 193rd overall pick. This East Tennessee native and former Karns Beavers defender had a very productive career with the Pokes and should have a great shot at developing into a fast and athletic middle backer during his time in Dallas. The leading rusher from the SEC this past season had to wait until the 6th round to hear his name called but it finally happened when the Baltimore Ravens selected Missouri running back Tyler Badie with the 196th pick.Badie had a breakout senior season where he displayed a variety of skills that made him a legit NFL prospect. The former Briarcrest Christian running back was the lone back drafted by the Ravens and they needed ball carriers last year due to injuries, so Badie has a great shot at coming into camp and moving up the depth chart. This guy could be one of the biggest steals of the entire draft! A pair of Tennessee Volunteers wrapped up the in-state selections late in the 6th round and it’s two prospects that could make their way into a starting role with their pro teams somewhere down the road. Former Knox. Catholic offensive lineman Cade Mays was selected by the Carolina Panthers with the 199th pick of the 2nd round and the lone interior offensive lineman drafted by the NFC South squad.Mays is a versatile O-lineman that can play tackle but his upside fits best on the inside for the Panthers and a guy that can make the two deep depth chart headed out of training camp. The final Tennessean to be selected came at the 204th pick when the Tennessee Titans picked Vols safety Theo Jackson in the 6th round, giving the Nashville native a chance to come home to play professional football. Photo: usatoday.comJackson is a former Overton Bobcat that grew up as a big fan of the Titans here in Nashville. He is very familiar with his surroundings in the Middle Tennessee area, so there won’t be a big transition for this former Vols safety that brings size, speed, athleticism and versatility to the Titans secondary. It was a good showing for the state of Tennessee in the 2022 NFL Draft and statement to current college and high school football prospects with in-state ties that the Volunteer State has some serious talent residing here and they can make it to the Pro’s one day with continued hard work and dedication.
During his recruiting class here in Tennessee, Chandler was one of the biggest names coming out of Montgomery Bell Academy when he was a high school senior that signed with the Vols and had three productive years before transferring to the Tar Heels for his last college season.
Chandler is coming to a Minnesota team that likes to run the ball and he should be a solid compliment to Dalvin Cook in the Vikings backfield. The former Big Red running back will be given every chance to carve out a role and develop into a dependable back during his time in Minneapolis.
The rest of the in-state selections came in the 6th round where we saw four former Tennessee high school players be selected and all four are talented prospects that should find a spot on their respective teams opening day rosters this Fall.
Kicking things off in the 6th was the Dallas Cowboys when they took former Oklahoma St. linebacker Devin Harper with the 193rd overall pick. This East Tennessee native and former Karns Beavers defender had a very productive career with the Pokes and should have a great shot at developing into a fast and athletic middle backer during his time in Dallas.
The leading rusher from the SEC this past season had to wait until the 6th round to hear his name called but it finally happened when the Baltimore Ravens selected Missouri running back Tyler Badie with the 196th pick.
Badie had a breakout senior season where he displayed a variety of skills that made him a legit NFL prospect. The former Briarcrest Christian running back was the lone back drafted by the Ravens and they needed ball carriers last year due to injuries, so Badie has a great shot at coming into camp and moving up the depth chart. This guy could be one of the biggest steals of the entire draft!
A pair of Tennessee Volunteers wrapped up the in-state selections late in the 6th round and it’s two prospects that could make their way into a starting role with their pro teams somewhere down the road.
Former Knox. Catholic offensive lineman Cade Mays was selected by the Carolina Panthers with the 199th pick of the 2nd round and the lone interior offensive lineman drafted by the NFC South squad.
Mays is a versatile O-lineman that can play tackle but his upside fits best on the inside for the Panthers and a guy that can make the two deep depth chart headed out of training camp.
The final Tennessean to be selected came at the 204th pick when the Tennessee Titans picked Vols safety Theo Jackson in the 6th round, giving the Nashville native a chance to come home to play professional football.
During his recruiting class here in Tennessee, Chandler was one of the biggest names coming out of Montgomery Bell Academy when he was a high school senior that signed with the Vols and had three productive years before transferring to the Tar Heels for his last college season.
Chandler is coming to a Minnesota team that likes to run the ball and he should be a solid compliment to Dalvin Cook in the Vikings backfield. The former Big Red running back will be given every chance to carve out a role and develop into a dependable back during his time in Minneapolis.
The rest of the in-state selections came in the 6th round where we saw four former Tennessee high school players be selected and all four are talented prospects that should find a spot on their respective teams opening day rosters this Fall.
Kicking things off in the 6th was the Dallas Cowboys when they took former Oklahoma St. linebacker Devin Harper with the 193rd overall pick. This East Tennessee native and former Karns Beavers defender had a very productive career with the Pokes and should have a great shot at developing into a fast and athletic middle backer during his time in Dallas.
The leading rusher from the SEC this past season had to wait until the 6th round to hear his name called but it finally happened when the Baltimore Ravens selected Missouri running back Tyler Badie with the 196th pick.
Badie had a breakout senior season where he displayed a variety of skills that made him a legit NFL prospect. The former Briarcrest Christian running back was the lone back drafted by the Ravens and they needed ball carriers last year due to injuries, so Badie has a great shot at coming into camp and moving up the depth chart. This guy could be one of the biggest steals of the entire draft!
A pair of Tennessee Volunteers wrapped up the in-state selections late in the 6th round and it’s two prospects that could make their way into a starting role with their pro teams somewhere down the road.
Former Knox. Catholic offensive lineman Cade Mays was selected by the Carolina Panthers with the 199th pick of the 2nd round and the lone interior offensive lineman drafted by the NFC South squad.
Mays is a versatile O-lineman that can play tackle but his upside fits best on the inside for the Panthers and a guy that can make the two deep depth chart headed out of training camp.
The final Tennessean to be selected came at the 204th pick when the Tennessee Titans picked Vols safety Theo Jackson in the 6th round, giving the Nashville native a chance to come home to play professional football.
