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Tennessee Vols: How Will Drafted Vols Fare In The NFL?

By Zach Ragan

Nov 12, 2016; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Butch Jones celebrates with Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Josh Malone (3) and defensive lineman LaTroy Lewis (4) after the game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Neyland Stadium. Tennessee won 49 to 36. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 12, 2016; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Butch Jones celebrates with Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Josh Malone (3) and defensive lineman LaTroy Lewis (4) after the game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Neyland Stadium. Tennessee won 49 to 36. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 26, 2015; Gainesville, FL, USA; Tennessee Volunteers linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin (21) and defensive back Emmanuel Moseley (12) during the first quarter at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 26, 2015; Gainesville, FL, USA; Tennessee Volunteers linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin (21) and defensive back Emmanuel Moseley (12) during the first quarter at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Jalen Reeves-Maybin — Linebacker

Detroit Lions — Round 4 Pick 124

Jalen Reeves-Maybin is another example of why size isn’t always the most important thing to look at in a draft prospect.

Reeves-Maybin isn’t the ideal size for a linebacker (by traditional standards), but he did nothing but produce while he was at Tennessee.

He was also the leader of the Vols’ defense, something that NFL teams love.

Reeves-Maybin will be an extremely versatile player for the Lions. He gets after the ball and has great instincts on defense. He seems to always find himself right in the middle of the play.

But Reeves-Maybin is also capable of lining up over a receiver and covering him down the field (or a tight end). Obviously that’s not a spot you want him to be in on a regular basis, but he can do it if the situation calls for it.

The former Vol, as he did early at Tennessee, should contribute early on special teams for the Lions, while fighting for playing time at the linebacker position.

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