With the NFL preseason in the rearview, an abundance of professional football players were on the chopping block on Tuesday as teams had to cut their rosters down to 53-players.
Some former Vols were included in that group but a trio of undrafted rookies surprised and made an initial NFL roster ahead of the start of the 2024 season.
Former Tennessee safety Jaylen McCollough made the Los Angeles Rams roster, former cornerback and punt returner Dee Williams made the Seattle Seahawks roster and former receiver Ramel Keyton made the Las Vegas Raiders roster.
None of the three players were even borderline draft picks in the 2024 NFL Draft which makes their rise this preseason all the more impressive.
Williams shows the importance of special teams. The former junior college transfer rarely played on defense at Tennessee and even moved to receiver in his senior season. However, he was one of the best punt returners in the country and a valuable gunner on punt coverage. After making plays on special teams during the preseason, Williams landed on the Seahawks roster.
McCollough was a multi-year starter at Tennessee and after an underwhelming 2022 season he turned in an impressive and breakout super senior season. The Georgina native recored 58 tackles, four pass breakups and three interceptions during the 2023 season including an interception against Alabama. McCollough performed well throughout training camp and recorded an interception in the preseason which led to him making the Rams’ roster.
Keyton had an off-and-on role during his college career but his role expanded in 2022 when he stepped up when Cedric Tillman went down with an ankle injury. Over the course of the 2022 season, Keyton caught 27 passes for 486 yards and four touchdowns. Keyton had some drop problems as a full-time starter in 2023 but still caught 32 passes for 591 yards and six touchdowns. After catching five passes for 81 yards in the preseason, the Raiders kept Keyton on their roster entering the season.
Drafted Tennessee rookies Jaylen Wright and Joe Milton III also both made the 53-man roster while seventh round pick Kamal Hadden did not. Undrafted rookie cornerback Gabe Jeudy-Lally did not make the Titans roster but they did sign him to their practice squad.
