Tennessee Volunteers NFL Draft prospects to watch in Music City Bowl

Every bowl game has opt-outs these days, but Tuesday night brings one game that got hit especially hard by this recent trend. The Music City Bowl, in Nashville, or as the kids call it these days, “Nashvegas” will see Illinois take on Tennessee on Tuesday night.

Both sides have opt-outs, but Tennessee will be without most of their star power, especially so on defense, for this one. I guess it’s fitting that they’re playing this game in the capital of country music, a genre with lyrics that are quite often about what you’ve lost or are about to lose.

The Volunteers have two first round cornerback prospects, Jermod McCoy and Colton Hood, and both will be absent here.

Ditto for their two second round prospects, defensive end Joshua Josephs and wide receiver Chris Brazzell. Linebacker Arion Carter is a late round prospect, at best, but he’s not volunteering to take part in this one.

So if you’re watching this game for draft related reasons, you must resign yourself to the fact that you’re only going to be seeing late round prospects.

Or guys who will be in the conversation for 2027 and beyond.

Tennessee Players to Watch

QB Joey Aguilar

Both starting quarterbacks have a lot to prove to NFL GMs and scouts, and hence, they opted in. Aguilar has a better chance of getting selected than his Illini counterpart, Luke Altmyer, but he still has plenty of work to do.

OT Lance Heard

He’s a fringe prospect who could still work his way into the seventh round

Edges Jordan Ross, Edwin Spillman and Wide Receiver Travis Smith Jr.

All three of these guys have a tremendous opportunity here. With a breakout performance here, they could establish themselves as key cogs for the Vols in 2026, and from there, the sky’s the limit.

This trio has the talent to develop into draft prospects for 2027 and beyond.