Tennessee Football Produces 17 NFL Draft Picks Under Josh Heupel

The Volunteers have had five players selected in two of Heupel's five NFL Drafts so far.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 1:49pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a Tennessee football player in action, with the player's form broken down into overlapping planes of orange and white.Tennessee's pipeline of NFL talent under coach Josh Heupel continues to fuel the program's rise.Knoxville Today

In his five seasons as Tennessee's head coach, Josh Heupel has seen 17 Volunteer players get drafted into the NFL. The Vols are projected to have five players selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, which would tie a Heupel-era record.

Why it matters

Heupel's ability to develop NFL talent has been a key part of his success at Tennessee, helping the Volunteers return to national prominence and compete for SEC titles.

The details

Tennessee had five players drafted in both the 2022 and 2023 NFL Drafts under Heupel. This year, ESPN's latest mock draft has the Vols projected to have five more players selected, including first-rounders Jermod McCoy and Colton Hood.

  • The 2026 NFL Draft begins on Thursday, April 24.
  • Heupel is entering his fifth season as Tennessee's head coach.

The players

Jermod McCoy

A projected first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Colton Hood

Another Tennessee player expected to be selected in the first round this year.

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What they’re saying

“Tennessee projects to be an active force in the draft this week in the Steel City.”

— Ric Butler, Author

The takeaway

Heupel's ability to develop NFL-caliber talent has been a key part of Tennessee's resurgence under his leadership, and the Volunteers' continued success in the draft could help them compete for SEC and national championships in the coming years.