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3 former Tennessee Volunteers to watch during the NFL playoffs

If you bleed orange, these former Tennessee Volunteers could be worth watching as the NFL playoffs unfold.

January 5, 2026 • 
Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto
Jauan Jennings playing football for the Tenneesee Volunteers

Jauan Jennings converted to wide receiver in college.

Photo by Chris Gillespie via Wikimedia Commons

The NFL playoffs run Saturday, Jan. 10 through Monday, Jan. 12. You know we love all things local, so here are the former Vols we’ll keep an

Derek Barnett

Team: Houston Texans
Vols years: 2014-16
Game: Texans vs. Steelers on Monday, Jan. 12 at 7 p.m.

Most fans love him because he’s a former first-round pick and Super Bowl champion. We love that he’s from Nashville. (Hi, NASHtoday.)

Joshua Dobbs

Team: New England Patriots
Vols years: 2013-16
Game: Chargers vs. Patriots on Sunday, Jan. 11 at 7 p.m.

We may not get to see him play, but the Passtronaut will be the backup quarterback.

Jauan Jennings

Team: San Francisco 49ers
Vols years: 2015-19
Game: Chargers vs. Patriots on Sunday, Jan. 11 at 3:30 p.m.

This physical, clutch receiver hails from Cowan, TN.

Bonus: Alvin Kamara

Team: New Orleans Saints
Vols years: 2015-16

While the Saints aren’t in playoffs, we had to ask: Do any of our readers still own one of these bobbleheads? We’d like to have one for reminiscing.

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