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Cedric Tillman is going pro.
Tillman announced Monday that he would be entering the 2023 NFL Draft and would skip Teneesse’s Orange Bowl appearance against Clemson later this month. Tillman had 1 year of eligibility left due to the COVID-19 waiver but instead elected to leave school to prepare for his next chapter.
Tillman was limited to 6 games in 2022 due to an ankle injury suffered in Week 3 against Akron. He finished the year with 37 catches for 417 yards and 3 touchdowns, including posting a season-high 9 catches for 162 yards and a touchdown in Tennessee’s Week 2 win over Pitt.
Thank you Vol Nation. I will always bleed orange ?? pic.twitter.com/ZV7dkdEFws
— Cedric Tillman (@Ctillman04) December 12, 2022
A breakout star in 2021, Tillman became an SEC household name under then-1st-year coach Josh Heupel. He caught 64 passes for 1,081 yards and 12 touchdowns, becoming the 1st Tennessee receiver since Justin Hunter in 2012 to surpass 1,000 receiving yards in a single season. Tillman also set a Vols record, recording a touchdown in 7 consecutive games along with standout quarterback Hendon Hooker.
Hooker, who suffered a torn ACL in the Vols’ loss to South Carolina, will also enter April’s draft. Reigning Biletnikoff Award winner Jalin Hyatt has yet to decide on his status for the 2023 season.
Tillman will represent Tennessee 1 more time at the 2023 Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. next month. He is currently the No. 8 receiver prospect in the 2023 class according to ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr.
Cole Thompson is a freelance writer for Saturday Football who has covered college football and the NFL for multiple websites. Thompson is currently based in Houston, Texas, and also can be heard daily on SportsMap National Radio's 'Just Sayin It' from 3am-6am.
