2026 NFL Draft: Volunteer State Well Represented

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The pro football draft has come and gone for another year but this cycle, our home state of Tennessee had strong representation with eight players selected. All the prospects listed below are players we scouted during their high school lives and talked about a ton, so it's cool to see them continue their careers on the pro level. </h2>     (QB) Ty Simpson - Alabama (Westview HS)   * Drafted 13th overall by - Los Angeles Rams *   - Simpson is one of the best quarterbacks to ever come out of the Volunteer State. As a senior, he earned Class 2A Mr. Football while leading his Westview team to a state championship while throwing for 2,827 yards and 41 touchdowns on just 3 interceptions. After his high school life with the Chargers, Simpson went on to star at Alabama but only for one season. He had to spend his time learning behind others for multiple years but when his opportunity to start came last Fall, Simpson performed very well as one of the better signal callers in college football. He now sits in a similar situation as he will sit behind Matthew Stafford for potentially multiple seasons before taking over as the lead guy of the future at quarterback.    - - - - -    (LB) Jake Golday - Cincinnati (Arlington HS)   * Drafted 51st overall by - Minnesota Vikings *   - This Memphis area prospect is someone I know very well and someone I scouted extensively coming out of Arlington. Golday had a solid career while with the Tigers but really started to come into his own while at Central Arkansas. After spending several years with the Bears, Golday transferred up to Cincinnati where he flourished to become one of the best linebackers inside the Big 12 conference. Going into the 2026 Draft, Golday was considered one of the most athletic defensive prospects in the class with a lot of potential to become a potential starting backer with Minnesota. I personally think Golday has more levels to go as a player, which means I think the Vikings got a steal here and possible All-Pro player somewhere down the road.    - - - - -    (Edge) Keyron Crawford - Auburn (Briarcrest Christian HS)   * Drafted 67th overall by - Las Vegas Raiders *   - The Raiders might have gotten a steal here with Crawford as he only has about 5 years of football experience under his belt with tons of room to continue improving on the pro level. This Memphis area product is someone I am very familiar with as we were one of the first people here at PRZTN to jump on Crawford and start putting him out there to the masses. His lone season at Briarcrest Christian saw Crawford become a feared pass rusher with tons of upside that began to show the potential while at Arkansas State. He eventually transferred to Auburn where he developed well, which put him in position to be taken in the first three rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/12/keycrawford2.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-246187" style="width:233px;height:auto" /></figure>   - - - - -    (TE) Sam Roush - Stanford (Lipscomb Academy)   * Drafted 69th overall by - Chicago Bears *   - Originally from California, Roush spent his senior season here in Mid-Tennessee at Lipscomb Academy where he became one of the top tight ends in the state while also earning defensive player of the year honors while with the Mustangs. He went back to Cali to play his college ball at Stanford where Roush established himself as one of the better blocking tight ends within the college ranks. That's what the Bears like in this guy is someone that could help boost their run game while also providing a big target on intermediate routes. Roush is the kind of talent that could carve out a long career in the NFL due to his technique based game play, his toughness and willingness to do the small things to win.    - - - - -    (S) Jakobe Thomas - Miami (Tullahoma HS)   * Drafted 98th overall by - Minnesota Vikings *   - Thomas took the long road to get to the NFL but he has made it after a stellar college career that saw him get better and improve each year. This Mid-Tennessee product spent time at three different colleges (MTSU, Tennessee) but really started to flourish while at Miami. Thomas started to come on late during his senior campaign at Tullahoma where I personally scouted him at camps I was a part of that saw the dynamic abilities that would eventually be showcased in college. He has a shot to eventually start at Minnesota, especially if he continues to develop at the rate he has been on since Tullahoma. This is a talented young man with great size and ball skills that may flourish with the Vikings.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/01/Jakobe-Thomas-Miami-crop-1639x1076-1777396284.jpeg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2190310" style="width:318px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Jakobe Thomas on X</figcaption></figure>   - - - - -    (LB) Justin Jefferson - Alabama (Bartlett HS)   * Drafted 149th overall by - Cleveland Browns *   - Beginning his college career on the JuCo level, Jefferson continued to develop and improve each step of the way that eventually landed him at the University of Alabama. He carved out a solid career with the Tide as a starting linebacker and one of the team's most athletic performers. Jefferson displayed that athletic skill set during his time at Bartlett where he was a game wrecker and now he plans to bring that same kind of mentality to the NFL with the Cleveland Browns. Early on, the former Panthers linebacker will look to make his mark on special teams but eventually, Jefferson could have a shot at becoming a defensive starter and someone that could flourish under pro coaching.    - - - - -    (WR) Barion Brown - LSU (Pearl Cohn HS)   * Drafted 190th overall by - New Orleans Saints *   - Coming out of Pearl Cohn high school, Brown generated a lot of buzz around his name but never truly lived up to the hype in college. While the Nashville native did flash big time abilities while at Kentucky and LSU, consistency was always the issue with Brown but hopefully his best is yet to come in the pro ranks. What Brown brings to the Saints is a playmaker with breakaway speed that could be used well in the slot. The former Firebirds receiver could also develop into a dynamic return guy and key piece on special teams. The raw talent is certainly in place for Brown to make an impact in New Orleans, if he can take that next step in his progression and finally round out his game.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/01/bbrown5-crop-1639x1076-1777396334.jpeg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2190316" style="width:299px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: stateoftennesseehsfb.com</figcaption></figure>   - - - - -    (LB) Parker Hughes - MTSU (Elizabethton HS)   * Drafted 240th overall by - Jacksonville Jaguars *   - One of the most heralded prospects to come from the East Tennessee region, Hughes had a stellar career at Elizabethton where he helped lead his Cyclones team to two state titles while earning Mr. Football honors as a senior. He went on to MTSU to have a solid career with the Blue Raiders as this past season he earned 2nd Team All-CUSA honors after a strong senior campaign. His work in Murfreesboro helped get him on the pro radar where the Jags took him in the 7th round to potentially be a reserve linebacker and a key piece on special teams. Hughes is an athletic guy with high football IQ, so I wouldn't be surprised to see him develop into a key starter somewhere down the road.    - - - - -    Undrafted Signees   (WR) Eric Rivers - McCallie HS - Georgia Tech (Signed w/ Tampa Bay)   (Edge) Theron Gaines - Oakland HS - Tennessee Tech (Signed w/ Buffalo)   (DT) Gary Smith III - Shelbyville Central HS - UCLA (Signed w/ Las Vegas)   (DT) Bryson Eason - Whitehaven HS - Tennessee (Signed w/ San Francisco)   (LB) Reid Williford - CPA - Charlotte (Signed w/ Baltimore)   (LB) Langston Patterson - CPA - Vanderbilt (Signed w/ Dallas)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/04/lpatterson-crop-823x541-1777396794.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2190347" style="width:292px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Touchdown Alabama Magazine </figcaption></figure>