Byron Young, LA Rams DE // Photo via @RamsNFL Twitter
The NFL season is officially underway, with a good number of former Tennessee football standouts making impacts for their teams. This included sacks from Jaylen McCollough and Byron Young for the Rams, and Alontae Taylor for the Saints. Finding the end zone included Alvin Kamara for the Saints and Cedric Tillman for the Browns.
Three of the Vols’ rookies also made debuts, with Dylan Sampson of the Browns, Dont’e Thornton Jr. of the Raiders and James Pearce Jr. of the Falcons having strong outings.
Here’s a player-by-player view of how every Tennessee football alum did.
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DE Derek Barnett – Texans
At UT: 2014-16
Years in NFL: 9
at Rams, 14-9 L
DT Matthew Butler – Dolphins
At UT: 2017-21
Years in NFL: 4
at Colts, 33-8 L
LS Morgan Cox – Titans
At UT: 2005-09
Years in NFL: 16
at Broncos, 20-12 L
QB Josh Dobbs – Patriots
At UT: 2013-16
Years in NFL: 9
vs. Raiders, 20-13 L
CB Kamal Hadden – Packers
At UT: 2021-23
Years in NFL: 2
WR Jalin Hyatt – Giants
At UT: 2020-22
Years in NFL: 3
at Commanders, 21-6 L
S Theo Jackson – Vikings
At UT: 2017-21
Years in NFL: 4
at Bears, 27-24 W
WR Jauan Jennings – 49ers
At UT: 2015-19
Years in NFL: 5
at Seahawks, 17-13 L
RB Velus Jones Jr. – Saints
At UT: 2020-2021
Years in NFL: 4
vs. Cardinals, 20-13 L
RB Alvin Kamara – Saints
At UT: 2015-16
Years in NFL: 9
vs. Cardinals, 20-13 L
11 carries
45 rushing yards
1 TD
2 receptions
12 receiving yards
AK finds the endzone. One smooth dude.
📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/8qDMvtRYxr
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) September 7, 2025
OG Cade Mays – Panthers
At UT: 2020-21
Years in NFL: 4
at Jaguars, 26-10 L
S Jaylen McCollough – Rams
At UT: 2019-23
Years in NFL: 2
vs. Texans, 14-9 W
3 tackles
1 sack
1 TFL
1 QBH
Tank got there quick! 🏎️#NFLVols | #GBO🍊
📺 NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube
pic.twitter.com/VOWVFu05YY
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) September 7, 2025
QB Joe Milton III – Cowboys
At UT: 2021-23
Years in NFL: 2
at Eagles, 24-20 L
DT Omarr Norman-Lott – Chiefs
At UT: 2023-24
Years in NFL: 1
vs. Chargers (Brazil), 27-21 L
WR Josh Palmer – Bills
At UT: 2017-20
Years in NFL: 5
vs. Ravens, 41-40 W
OLB James Pearce Jr. – Falcons
At UT: 2022-24
Years in NFL: 1
vs. Buccaneers, 23-20 L
RB Dylan Sampson – Browns
At UT: 2022-24
Years in NFL: 1
vs. Bengals, 17-16 L
12 carries
29 rushing yards
8 receptions
64 receiving yards
OG Trey Smith – Chiefs
At UT: 2017-20
Years in NFL: 5
vs. Chargers (Brazil), 27-21 L
Started at RG
61 snaps
58.7 PFF grade
CB Alontae Taylor – Saints
At UT: 2018-21
Years in NFL: 4
vs. Cardinals, 20-13 L
2 tackles
1 solo
1 sack
1 TFL
1 QBH
ALONTAEEEEEEEEE YOU DAWG
📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/1KsWYhq8GZ
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) September 7, 2025
OLB Darrell Taylor – Texans
At UT: 2015-19
Years in NFL: 5
at Rams, 14-9 L
WR Dont’e Thornton Jr. – Raiders
At UT: 2023-24
Years in NFL: 1
at Patriots, 20-13 W
Dont’e Thornton Jr. absolutely cooked Carlton Davis on this double move
He is a DANGEROUS deep threat. You can’t guard him 1v1 like this.
6’5” and runs a 4.3 40 yard dash… pic.twitter.com/S7z4hqwdLH
— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) September 8, 2025
WR Cedric Tillman – Browns
At UT: 2018-22
Years in NFL: 3
vs. Bengals, 17-16 L
5 receptions
52 yards
1 TD
Ced with the score 😤#NFLVols | #GBO🍊
📺 NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube
pic.twitter.com/qxlI1kIoSi
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) September 7, 2025
DT Shy Tuttle – Titans
At UT: 2015-18
Years in NFL: 7
OT Darnell Wright – Bears
At UT: 2019-22
Years in NFL: 3
vs. Vikings, 27-24 L
Started at RT
66 snaps
77.9 PFF grade (Team offensive high)
RB Jaylen Wright – Dolphins
At UT: 2021-23
Years in NFL: 2
at Colts, 33-8 L
OLB Byron Young – Rams
At UT: 2021-22
Years in NFL: 3
vs. Texans, 14-9 W
9 tackles
5 solo
1 sack
1 TFL
2 QBH
Gonna be a long year in Houston. Both tackles end up getting walked back, great rushes by both Byron Young (#0) and Verse (#8) pic.twitter.com/NiFuBh9R1J
— JP Acosta (@acosta32_jp) September 9, 2025