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Where Tennessee players are ranked on Mel Kiper's 2026 NFL Draft Big Board

IMG_3593by: Grant Ramey10 hours agoGrantRamey
Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
(Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images) Sep 7, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Tennessee Volunteers tight end Miles Kitselman (87) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the North Carolina State Wolfpack during the second half at the Dukes Mayo Classic at Bank of America Stadium.

Tennessee corner Jermod McCoy is the No. 17 overall prospect on Mel Kiper’s updated Big Board for the 2026 NFL Draft, while Chris Brazzell II, Miles Kitselman, Joshua Josephs and Colton Hood were all ranked as top-10 prospects at their respective position by the longtime ESPN NFL Draft analyst.

Oregon quarterback Dante Moore is the No. 1 player on Kiper’s Big Board, ahead of Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese and Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson. 

Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, at No. 8 overall, is the only defensive back currently ranked higher than McCoy.

“McCoy hasn’t played yet in 2025 after suffering a torn ACL in January,” Kiper wrote while ranked McCoy at No. 17, “but he still has the chance to be the first cornerback off the board in April.”

Jermod McCoy, Colton Hood both ranked in top 10 at cornerback

That’s exactly where Kiper has McCoy currently projected, as the No. 1 cornerback in the class and four spots ahead of Hood, who checks in at No. 5. Kiper has Brazzell as the No. 7 wide receiver on the board and Kitselman as the No. 7 tight end. Josephs is No. 8 at outside linebacker.

Brazzell, who transferred from Tulane before the 2024 season, has had a breakout second season at Tennessee, leading the Vols with 808 receiving yards and eight touchdown receptions. He 29 catches for 33 yards and two touchdowns in 13 games last season. 

Kitselman, an Alabama transfer, has 10 catches for 250 yards and two touchdowns through nine games, after catching 22 passes for 301 yards and four touchdowns last season. 

Josephs this season is tied for the Tennessee team lead in tackles for loss (6.0), is second in sacks (4.0) and ninth in tackles (30). The 6-foot-3, 240-pound Jospehs, in his senior season at Tennessee, has 101 tackles, 22.0 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks in 46 games with the Vols.

Pro Football Focus this week projected McCoy, Josephs and Hood to all be first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Jermod McCoy’s ‘on-the-ball production will get Day 1 interest’

McCoy suffered the torn ACL during offseason training in January and did not go through spring practice with Tennessee.

His breakout year at Tennessee last season included 44 tackles and nine passes defended to go with the four interceptions, which he returned for 71 yards. 

“He began his college career at Oregon State,” Kiper wrote, “picking off two passes there in 2023. McCoy’s ball-hawking traits really emerged once transferring to Tennessee, as he picked off four passes and broke up nine last season. 

“Even if he doesn’t make it back onto the field this season, his on-the-ball production will get Day 1 interest.”