Tennessee’s Hidden Gem: The Vols’ Quiet Superstar Who Could Be a First-Round Draft Pick
In the 2024 season, the Tennessee Volunteers featured a quiet but potentially game-changing player who flew under the radar—defensive lineman Omarr Norman-Lott.
While much of the focus in Knoxville was placed on edge rusher James Pearce and running back Dylan Sampson, both of whom were frequently discussed as NFL prospects, Norman-Lott didn’t generate the same level of attention despite his significant talent.
However, the defensive lineman’s performance at the Senior Bowl this year has started to shift that narrative, with many scouts now considering him a strong candidate for a first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Norman-Lott, a California native, transferred to Tennessee from Arizona State, where he spent two seasons honing his skills. Despite his obvious ability, he only averaged 17.3 snaps per game in 2024, a notably low number given his impressive performances.
In total, he played just 226 snaps over the course of the season, a figure lower than that of fellow defensive linemen Dominic Bailey (416 snaps), Bryson Eason (363 snaps), and Jaxson Moi (246 snaps). Interestingly, Norman-Lott was still Tennessee’s highest-graded defensive lineman, according to Pro Football Focus, among those who played at least 200 snaps.
This limited playing time seemed even more perplexing during Tennessee’s loss to Ohio State in the first round of the College Football Playoff, where Norman-Lott was on the field for only 13 snaps.
It prompted questions from an AFC director of college scouting, who voiced concern over his underutilization. In an interview with ESPN, the director asked, “I know they had a lot of talent up front, but why did he play so little? I would have liked to see him play more in a full-time role, especially on early downs.”
Tennessee’s strategy of rotating a deep defensive line is generally seen as a strength, keeping players fresh throughout the game.
Defensive line coach Rodney Garner and defensive coordinator Tim Banks have emphasized this approach to maintain high energy levels and efficiency, but the decision to limit Norman-Lott’s playing time still raises eyebrows.
For comparison, players like Abdul Carter from Penn State and Mason Graham from Michigan both averaged about 45 snaps per game in 2024, suggesting that Norman-Lott’s workload could have been much higher without compromising the overall depth of Tennessee’s defensive line.
Although Tennessee’s defense was strong in 2024, particularly with its depth and rotation, there’s a strong case to be made that the unit could have been even more formidable had Norman-Lott been given a more prominent role.
As the praise for his abilities continues to grow at the Senior Bowl, it’s clear that Tennessee might have had an under-the-radar star in Norman-Lott all along. His rare combination of pass rush and run-stopping skills has NFL scouts buzzing, and his draft stock is rapidly climbing.
If Norman-Lott had been used more often in the Vols’ defensive scheme, it could have helped elevate an already strong defense to an even higher level of dominance.
