NFL Draft Alert: DT Prodigy Hints at Exceptional Combine Performance in Pre-Draft Message to Teams

As we stand on the brink of the 2025 NFL Draft, one can’t help but be struck by the whirlwind of excitement—and anxiety—that envelops the fans packed into Detroit’s Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza just visualizing the potentials. It’s quintessential Detroit, pulsating with that fiery sports spirit, where every fan in the sea of jerseys harbors that burning question: how will my team fare this time around? And for the Tennessee Volunteers faithful, the upcoming draft isn’t just another event—it’s a veritable goldmine of potential, a mad dash where several of their prized athletes might just hit the jackpot.

But here’s a thought to chew the cud on: amidst the fanfare and the projected lock-picks like Omarr Norman-Lott, Dont’e Thornton Jr., James Pearce Jr., and Dylan Sampson, there’s a guy, a true dark horse, that’s making some noise. Elijah Simmons, a name not as loud as thunder yet, but this 6-foot-1 defensive tackle is out here sending a holler to all the NFL teams.

“I’m going to be a consistent player through and through. I’m going to come in and showcase explosiveness at the point of attack. I play with a high motor… I’m going to be the same player you watched at Tennessee, just at a higher level. I’m going to give it 1000%,” Simmons declared, echoing with a fierce determination that’s all too familiar in the heart of aspiring NFL athletes.

This Vols’ stalwart carved his place in the college ranks with sheer grit, stuffing the middle, and opening lanes like a pro, albeit his stats didn’t have the fireworks – 59 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, and 0.5 sacks. But let’s not get bamboozled by numbers; it’s those raw traits that make you want to lean in closer, to see what could be.

Now, a defensive tackle’s draft position can be the equivalent of workplace politics, unpredictable and often unfair due to positional value. Yes, Simmons might slip down to Mr. Irrelevant territory, the last pick, quite possibly headed to the Kansas City Chiefs at No. 257, but in the grand tapestry of NFL history, it’s the journey and the heart that often tell the tale, not where you’re fished out of the draft pool.

So, as the clock ticks down to the draft, while the spotlight might be on the highly-touted prospects, this is your signal to keep an eye on the guys like Simmons—the sleepers, the underdogs—because they often end up being the real heart and soul of their franchise, turning whatever team selects them into their new kingdom. Now, will they be the one to make your team’s draft day unforgettable? That, my friends, is the essence of the NFL Draft’s unpredictability, the very reason we all come back for more, year after year.

The 2025 NFL Draft is just around the corner, and Tennessee Volunteers fans will have plenty to look forward to.

Multiple Vols will walk their first steps as professionals, with guys like Omarr Norman-Lott, Dont’e Thornton Jr., James Pearce Jr., and Dylan Sampson looking like locks to be drafted.

Notably, others expect DT Elijah Simmons to be a sleeper pick as well.

With that in mind, the 6-foot-1 specimen sent all NFL teams a strong message to make a case for why they should take him:

“I’m going to be a consistent player through and through. I’m going to come in and showcase explosiveness at the point of attack. I play with a high motor. I’m going to be the same player you watched at Tennessee, just at a higher level. I’m going to give it 1000%,” Simmons said.

During his days with the Vols, he made a name for himself for his ability to stuff the middle of the defense and open up lanes for the defensive ends.

His numbers weren’t eye-popping by any means, logging 59 tackles, eight tackles for loss, and 0.5 sacks in his collegiate days, but his physical traits are promising.

He spent five years with the Volunteers and started all 13 games last season.

Of course, positional value often hurts defensive tackles, and it wouldn’t be shocking to see Simmons slip down the draft because of that.

Nevertheless, he’s most definitely worth a look as a sleeper pick or undrafted free agent.

He’s currently projected to be this year’s Mr. Irrelevant and go to the Kansas City Chiefs at No. 257.

Then again, as history has shown in the past, it’s never about where you’re taken; it’s about what you do to earn your stripes and prove that you belong in the most competitive league on Earth.

The post Promising DT Prospect Sends Message To Teams Ahead Of NFL Draft appeared first on The Cold Wire.