Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics
Despite Tennessee football’s 2025 defense underperforming and leading to a change at defensive coordinator, the Vols are projected to produce multiple draft picks on that side of the ball. This includes potential first-round pick cornerbacks Jermod McCoy and Colton Hood, along with likely second-day pick, edge rusher Joshua Josephs.
However, there’s another piece of UT’s defensive line that may also hear his name called. Veteran defensive tackle Bryson Eason is looked at as a likely third-day selection and someone who could make a quick impact at the next level.
Anonymous college coaches agree. ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg talked to coaches across the country to get feedback on players who are sleepers in the draft. He then compiled a list of prospects you should know. This included Eason.
“Eason came to Tennessee as an inside linebacker and moved to the edge before eventually finding his home at defensive tackle,” Rittenberg wrote. “He stood out for a nationally elite Vols’ defense in 2024, finishing third on the team in tackles for loss with seven. Eason finished his career with more than 1,500 snaps. The 6-foot-2, 323-pound Eason tied for fifth in the broad jump (9 feet, 4 inches) among defensive tackles at the combine and clocked a 5.09 in the 40-yard dash.”
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The assistant coach Rittenberg noted is an assistant in the SEC. While it doesn’t say which team he coaches, it can be assumed he’s had first-hand experience seeing Eason in action.
“He got better every year,” an SEC assistant said in the article. “Whoever ends up taking that kid is going to be pleasantly surprised. He’s super strong, he can run. He’s a Day 3 guy that I think people are going to be glad they took.”
This past season, Eason finished with 31 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and a fumble recovery. He played six seasons at the college level, each at Tennessee. He is from Memphis, where he played for Whitehaven High School.