KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee cornerback Kamal Hadden was selected in the NFL Draft on Saturday by the Kansas City Chiefs as a sixth-round pick.
Hadden has started for the Vols since 2022 and turned into one of the best defensive backs in the nation in 2023. He played in 23 games at UT after transferring and had 15 career starts. Hadden transferred from Auburn where he was there for only a spring and was at Independence Community College in Kansas before that.
Hadden had three interceptions in seven games and didn't allow a touchdown before a season-ending shoulder injury last season. One of those interceptions he returned for a touchdown against South Carolina right before halftime in a momentum-shifting moment. He had the game-sealing interception in the defensive battle against Texas A7M as well.
Hadden had 11 pass deflections last season, too.
He only allowed a passer rating of 7.0, which ranked the lowest in the country in a Power 5 conference according to Pro Football Focus.
Since joining UT in 2021, Hadden had six interceptions, 18 pass deflections, two forced fumbles and 87 total tackles.
