After a blank first day for Tennessee players, the Vols saw two players taken on the second day of the NFL Draft. Cornerback Colton Hood went in the second round to the New York Giants, and Chris Brazzell went in the third round to the Carolina Panthers.
The two picks represent the 11th and 12th selections under Josh Heupel in the first three rounds.
After receiving first-round grades, cornerback Jermod McCoy still has not heard his name after two days.
Hood gave Tennessee an early start to the second day of the draft after the Vols did not see a first-round selection. Following four Friday picks outside his position group, Hood went 37th overall to the Giants.
The Giants made the selection after taking linebacker Arvell Reese and offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa in the first round Thursday. Joining Hood in New York is third-round choice and wide reciever Malachi Fields.
Hood was a Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist in his only season in Knoxville and earned second-team All-SEC honors for a campaign that included 50 tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss. The McDonough, Georgia native earned an interception and forced fumble while also recovering a fumble in the season-opener against Syracuse.
After injuries to McCoy and Rickey Gibson III, Hood's performance became more crucial. He is the first Tennessee cornerback drafted since Kamal Hadden in 2024.
Brazzell II went 83rd overall to Carolina and pairs with offensive tackle Monroe Freeling and defensive tackle Lee Hunter as draft picks by the Panthers on the first two days. The Tennessee talent could see time paired in Carolina's offense with Tetairoa McMillan, who got chosen by the organization a year ago.
As Tennessee's lead wide receiver, Brazzell enjoyed the most productive season of his career in 2025. He caught 62 passes for 1,017 yards and scored nine touchdowns for the Vols, including three touchdowns against Georgia. Tennessee's wide receiver room has a draft pick for the second straight year after Dont'e Thornton's selection by Las Vegas in last year's fourth round.
McCoy remains available after the first 100 picks of the draft. After missing 2025 rehabbing a torn ACL, McCoy received a further blow after it was announced he could possibly need additional surgery and miss another season before playing in the NFL.
In addition to McCoy, potential third-day selections from Tennessee include edge rusher Joshua Josephs, defensive tackle Bryson Eason, quarterback Joey Aguilar, tight end Miles Kitselman, cornerback Jalen McMurray and defensive tackle Tyre West. These Vols could also get training camp offers if not taken within the 257 selections in the draft.
After seven first-round selections, the SEC saw 15 of its players taken in the second round and 14 more in the third round. The 36 total SEC players lead the conference race.
Tennessee is one of 22 schools to have multiple players taken so far in the NFL Draft. Ohio State leads all college football teams with eight selections of the first 100. Texas A&M is the leading SEC school with seven players taken. Georgia and Miami each fielded six NFL draft picks last season.