Former Tennessee football players will be part of Thursday's NFL preseason slate, giving fans of the Volunteers several names to track as exhibition games return. The group includes Josh Dobbs, who is with the Detroit Lions and is battling to become the No. 2 quarterback on the depth chart.
That alone makes Dobbs one of the more notable former Tennessee players to watch on Thursday. The former Tennessee quarterback has already carved out a long NFL journey, and this preseason gives him another chance to strengthen his position with the Detroit Lions before the regular season picture gets clearer.
He is not the only former Vol making the rounds on Thursday. Cade Mays is listed with the Cincinnati Bengals, Jabari Small is with the Steelers, Tyre West is with the Las Vegas Raiders, and Kamal Hadden is with the Cardinals. McCallan Castles is also on a preseason roster, while Dont'e Thornton and Jermod McCoy add to the list of former Tennessee players spread across the league.
The result is a useful snapshot of how widely Tennessee Volunteers talent is represented heading into preseason play. For fans following the Thursday slate of games, it offers a simple storyline: one college program, several NFL teams, and multiple opportunities for former Tennessee players to make their case.
For Dobbs, the focus is a little sharper than most. A No. 2 quarterback job may not draw the biggest headlines in August, but it matters. It is the sort of role that can determine how much trust a team places in a veteran backup and how ready a player is if the starter goes down.
Thursday will not decide everything, but it will provide the first preseason look at where these former Tennessee players stand as teams begin sorting out their rosters.
