Draft reactions; Base Vols fumble away a golden opportunity

Happy Tuesday, y’all. I’ve been super busy, so it’s been a hot minute since I’ve done one of these articles. However, with the draft having finally come and gone and my schedule finally accommodating, it’s time to get back to it.

1) James Pearce, Jr. ended up going late in the first round like I thought – and oh, what a price the Falcons paid to take him.

So…..yeah, it looks like the Atlanta Falcons wanted to improve their pass rush, and they included Pearce in those plans – at a high cost. After taking Georgia LB Jalon Walker with the 15th pick, the Falcons traded back into the first round to snag Pearce at 26. The trade package sent to the Rams included a 2026 first rounder. Wow.

So yeah, the Falcons spent premium draft capital on Pearce with basically two first rounders forked over, along with other trade compensation included. That’s a very high price, and it speaks to the belief Atlanta has in the former Vol. A 20+% pressure rate over the last two years (the only FBS edge rusher to do that) wasn’t lost on them like it apparently was on other teams. Best of luck in Atlanta, James.

2) Omarr Norman-Lott will now get to clash with former Vol Trey Smith during Kansas City practices.

Norman-Lott was drafted with the 62nd pick, earlier than I thought he’d go (early third round). And man, like Smith, he landed in a very good situation – on the same roster as a generational talent like Patrick Mahomes. Playing alongside Chris Jones will only help him find opportunities with the Chiefs. Indeed, we will get to see a lot of the former Vol based on his landing spot, and that’s only a good thing.

3) Wow. I was surprised to see Dont’e Thornton, Jr. hear his name called before Dylan Sampson.

Both went in the fourth round, but Thornton heard his name called earlier with the Raiders. That’s a curious spot for Thornton, but he will have an established QB throwing him the ball in Geno Smith, who had a career renaissance in Seattle with a big-bodied speed demon in DK Metcalf. Thornton will have to show he’s a better route runner, but if he can improve there, he has the physical tools to make plays even in the NFL.

Sampson was the Browns’ second back drafted, as Ohio State’s Quinton Judkins went to Cleveland early in the second round. Judkins could have the inside track to the primary job, but Sampson will surely make that final roster. Now he just has to earn his role on the team, but with the players in that RB room besides Judkins, I think I can.

4) Tennessee baseball literally and figuratively dropped a golden opportunity over the weekend against LSU.

That Friday night game is going to hurt for a while. Two errors by Dean Curley in the ninth helped turn a 3-0 Tennessee lead into a 6-3 loss in the opener. The Vols clawed back to take the second game 9-3, but they ran completely out of gas on the mound on Sunday, losing 12-2 in 8 innings.

I’m afraid this team is one starting pitcher, and perhaps one strong bullpen arm, from being a real contender for another College World Series title this year. Marcus Phillips is coming into his own to pair nicely with Liam Doyle, but this team simply doesn’t have enough to patch together a decent plan on Sundays, and it’s showed over the last month.

Still, if the bats get hot, they can slug their way through some of these games. May that start back up this weekend against Auburn.

Go Vols!