KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Fourteen Tennessee VFLs showcased their skills in front of scouts and coaches from all 32 NFL teams at Tennessee Pro Day on Tuesday in the Anderson Training Center.
Five of the Vols’ six NFL Combine participants worked out on the field, including running back Dylan Sampson, edge rusher James Pearce Jr., defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott, wide receiver Dont’e Thornton Jr. and defensive tackle Elijah Simmons. The day allowed for additional Vols to get in front of scouts.
“You look at what they’ve done, putting the foundational pieces in for this program, the success that they’ve had, 30 wins over the last three years, Orange Bowl win, in the College Football Playoff this year, it speaks to who they are and what they’re about,” said head coach Josh Heupel. “They did a great job representing themselves and our program today too, so I’m really looking forward to seeing this journey continue for them, get to draft day and ultimately training camp and the season.”
The NFL Draft is scheduled for April 24-26 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
speed 💨#GBO 🍊 pic.twitter.com/rAcivmByie— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) March 11, 2025
Tennessee Football Press Conference | Pro Day
Head Coach Josh Heupel
Opening statement…
“Great day for our guys. It’s a lot of fun as a coach, our position coaches, everybody in the building that has been a part of their journey while they were playing for us, getting an opportunity to see them come and take the next step in their football journey. You look at this group, a lot of them I recruited, some of them were here day one when I got in the team room. But you look at what they’ve done, putting the foundational pieces in for this program, the success that they’ve had, 30 wins over the last three years. Orange Bowl win, in the College Football Playoff this year, speaks to who they are and what they’re about. They did a great job representing themselves and our program today too, so I’m really looking forward to seeing this journey continue for them, get to draft day and ultimately training camp and the season.”
On what his pitch would be to a team looking to take James Pearce Jr. in the first round…
“James is a smart player, electric, ability to rush the passer. Just seeing his growth on and off the field in three short years, his best is still in front of him. Dynamic playmaker.”
On how Dylan Sampson’s skillset transfers to the next level…
“First of all, he has a great understanding of the game. Great vision and pace as a running back, ability to set up and use the blockers in front of him. He can make plays out of the backfield, catching the football. He’s got return ability. His pass protection was really good for us, and he’s going to continue to get better at that too. He’s a guy that in three short years, has made a lot of plays, and that’s going to go with him forward, but his best football is still out in front of him too. Dynamic leader.”
On Omari Thomas participating in the offensive line drills and what impressed him today…
“Omari looked pretty good. Omari has done such a great job on our defensive line and has been a huge part of the culture in the locker room and us building our program. He has a great future in front of him. He flipped over for some of the drills today, natural skillset there as well. I am excited to see his career unfold.”
On showing recruits how Tennessee prepares players for the NFL and their future careers…
“Every layer of the recruitment is still there. Relationships still matter, development matters, success on the field, wins matter. The ability for our players to go to the next level is still a huge part of the recruiting process. The landscape has changed because there’s another layer to the cake with NIL, but all those other things still matter. And they certainly matter to the guys that we are going to recruit. Today, what our guys did, getting to draft day and their success in the NFL, all that stuff still matters.”
On James Pearce Jr.’s intelligence shining through in the draft process…
“I think the versatility of what we do defensively, four-down, three-down, him playing in the boundary to the field, off the ball as a linebacker, he has been exposed to all those things. James is extremely bright, retains information extremely quickly, and that’s important at the next level. The versatility he has, he has been able to (showcase that) in meetings at the combine, yesterday, and he has a couple more today. All of those go into a franchise ultimately drafting a player and the success of the player at the next level. You can look a couple years in front of him at a player like Byron Young and the success that he’s had. James has all those traits mentally to be able to have a really smooth transition to the next level. I’ve gotten a lot of that feedback from while he was at the combine, from head coaches and NFL personnel, and certainly here over the last day and a half.”
On how far James Pearce Jr. has come as a player on and off the field in his time at Tennessee…
“Young men when they come into our building, they are at varying levels of maturity. It’s our job to accelerate them as fast as we can. James has done a really good job. The football understanding, grew really quickly and has continued to grow. Developing as a man and as a person, he has done a really good job of continuing that, too.”
DL/EDGE James Pearce Jr.
On his experience with meeting different NFL teams…
“It’s good, it’s different with each team. Each team is looking for something else, or wants to know something about you that will help the team, and also how they can help you. That’s the same part, telling them how they can help me. I am not the type of guy to open up, but within 20 minutes of a phone meeting, they have to get to know me as much as possible during that time.”
On the questions he has received most during the draft process…
“They just want to get to know about you, it’s nothing crazy or unexpected that I’m not ready for. They want to know what type of person I am, the type of player I am from me. They ask everybody else, but they want to know from me as well.”
On what he hopes teams learn about him…
“That I’m a great guy, a great teammate, great player, people person and that I have a good heart.”
On what teams have liked about his play based on film…
“Everything. On my tape there’s not much that you can dislike. I can be a little better with my hands and there’s always a place to grow in your game, but I haven’t gotten too many dislikes.”
RB Dylan Sampson
On what he wanted to showcase for Pro Day and what he accomplished…
“First, I wanted to come out and show I could run, that my game speed is real speed because I didn’t get a chance to do it at the combine. For one, I hope everybody sees that I am healthy and I am moving well. I also wanted to show my receiving capabilities, show I can run routes and catch the ball naturally.”
On how he decided whether to run the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine or Pro Day…
“I almost threw my cleats on and ran it. I started training for the 40-yard dash just a little bit late after my hamstring injury at Vanderbilt. I just wanted to give myself the best shot. Our Pro Day wasn’t too late after the Combine, so I didn’t have to train for another month. We just made that conscious decision, and I think it was the right one.”
On what sets him apart from a deep running back class…
“Just for one, I know there are a lot of things I can do outside of running the ball. I try to look at games like Jahmyr Gibbs and Alvin Kamara. I look at myself as being able to do things like that. Even being a returner on special teams. I’m going to bring a lot of value to a program or organization, and that’s what I’m looking to do.”
WR Dont’e Thornton Jr.
On hitting a 4.30 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine…
“Oh yeah, the whole training period that definitely was my goal to hit 4.3. At first, I didn’t know what I ran because they do not show the first time at the Combine. So after I ran, I didn’t think I ran a good time, but then I started hearing people say what I ran and I got really excited. I called my uncle. Everybody was happy for me. I surprised myself when I ran it.”
On what NFL teams have liked about his game, beyond his speed…
“I’m a bigger receiver, but I would also say I’m versatile as I can play both inside and outside. That’s the main attraction for a lot of teams.”
On catching from a quarterback he has not spent much time with…
“I would say that it wasn’t really nerve-racking for me. I got in here two days ago and (former Chattanooga QB Chase Artopoeus) was already here. He was the first person to contact me, so knowing that he was ready to work, no matter if it was our first time throwing or we had been throwing with each other 100 times. We were able to adjust everything in our first two days working out with each other, and that made today easier.”
