sports

Joey Aguilar not among six Tennessee players invited to 2026 NFL combine

Six Tennessee football players were invited to the 2026 NFL Combine, with a notable omission.

Joey Aguilar was not one of the 15 quarterbacks invited. Aguilar's preliminary injunction hearing is Feb. 13, as he tries to regain his NCAA eligibility and play for the Vols in the 2026 season. If the injunction is granted, it could be Aguilar's last step toward eligibility to play the 2026 season. He led the SEC with 3,565 passing yards and added 24 passing touchdowns.

Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, who also sued the NCAA for another season of eligibility, was not invited. His hearing is set for Feb. 12.

Here are the six Tennessee players who received a combine invitation.

Chris Brazzell, wide receiver

Brazzell had a breakout junior season for the Vols as he led the SEC with 1,017 yards and nine touchdowns in the regular season. He earned first-team All-SEC honors, was a third-team AP All-American and finished as a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award. Brazzell is projected to be an early round draft pick and one of the top receivers on the board.

Bryson Eason, defensive lineman

Eason was a rotational defensive linemen for the Vols. The 6-foot-3, 315-pound senior recorded a career high 31 total tackles (eight solo) and three pass deflections.

Colton Hood, cornerback

Hood stepped up as the Vols' No. 1 corner after Jermod McCoy's ACL tear. He filled the role well, finishing as a third-team All-SEC honoree and is projected as an early round draft pick. Hood had 50 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, eight pass breakups, two defensive touchdowns, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Joshua Josephs, edge rusher

Josephs was Tennessee's star edge rusher and is projected as an early round NFL draft pick. He finished the 2025 season with 33 tackles, six tackles for loss, six quarterback hurries, four sacks, three pass breakups, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and a defensive touchdown.

Miles Kitselman, tight end

Kitselman was productive in both the pass and run game for Tennessee. Over the past two seasons, he had a combined 48 catches for 554 yards and six touchdowns. He was also a key blocker for the Vols' rushing attack.

Jermod McCoy, cornerback

McCoy's 2024 All-American season placed him as one of the top cornerbacks in this draft class as a projected first-round pick. His torn ACL injury last January forced McCoy to sit for the 2025 season. McCoy finished the 2024 season with 44 total tackles, seven pass deflections and four interceptions.

Wynton Jackson covers high school sports for Knox News. Email: [email protected]

Support strong local journalism and unlock premium perks: knoxnews.com/subscribe

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Joey Aguilar not among Tennessee players invited to 2026 NFL combine

Read full story at Yahoo Sport →