Darnell Wright

OVERVIEW

Summary: Four-year starter who spent time all over the offensive line — 27 games at right tackle, 13 at left tackle and two at right guard. He played all 13 games at right tackle in 2022. Big brute of a man who wasn't playing up to his size, strength and athletic ability until 2022 when he was vastly improved and looked at home at right tackle. Plays mean and ornery, which worked well in college, but he may need to learn how to best use his strength against more advanced defenders in the NFL.

FRANKLY: The big prize on the offensive line in the NFL is that left tackle who can protect the blind side of a (right-handed)  quarterback. Wright is not that guy. He is a mean, nasty road grader who might be most comfortable at guard in the NFL, although he improved throughout 2022 at right tackle and may be ready to give that a try at the next level. Background in track and field (explosiveness from shot putt) and basketball (good footwork for a big man) serve him well. Looks like a late first, early second-round pick.  

STATS

YEAR (GP/GS)   POSITION              

2019: (11/7)       5 RT, 2 RG

2020: (10/9)       RT

2021: (13/13)     LT

2022: (13/13)     RT

Total: (47/42)    27 RT, 13 LT, 2 RG

HISTORY — From College Profile

Career Honors

2023 Reese's Senior Bowl Participant
2022 All-SEC First Team (Associated Press, Coaches, USA TODAY)
2022 Rotary Lombardi Award Semifinalist
SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week (vs. #3 Alabama, 10/15/22; vs. #19 Kentucky, 10/29/22)
2019 Freshman All-SEC Team

 

Was a consensus five-star recruit and one of the nation’s top 10 prospects coming out of Huntington High School in West Virginia ... Can play tackle or guard and dominated at right tackle for the Vols in 2022 earning first-team All-SEC honors … Concluded his career without allowing a sack in 19 consecutive games ... Played in 47 games and made 42 starts – 27 at right tackle, two at right guard and 13 at left tackle … Saw action on 2,746 offensive snaps in his four seasons. Proved to be the SEC’s best offensive tackle, earning unanimous first-team All-SEC honors as selected by the Associated Press and coaches … Selected as a semifinalist for the Rotary Lombardi Award and was a two-time SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week

 

2022 (sr): Started all 13 games at right tackle and tied for the team lead in offensive snaps played with 895 ... One of just 14 FBS offensive linemen with more than 850 snaps played in 2022 and no sacks allowed with an efficiency of 99.0 or better according to PFF ... The only SEC offensive lineman with more than 850 snaps played and an efficiency of over 99.1 ... Anchored a Tennessee offense that led the nation in total offense (525.5) and scoring (46.1) ... Concluded his career in dominating fashion against No. 7 Clemson in the Orange Bowl (12/30), in a 66-snap start at right tackle without allowing a sack or a hit … Recorded 50 spotless snaps at Vanderbilt (11/26), allowing no pressures or QB hits and did not commit a penalty in an emphatic rushing game that saw the Big Orange average a single-game record 11.7 yards per carry on the ground and plunge in six rushing scores while amassing 513 yards of total offense ... Blocked for a season-high 84 offensive snaps at South Carolina (11/19) without allowing a pressure as the Vols piled up 507 yards of total offense ... Helped the Vols rack up a program record 724 yards of total offense and set a school record for points against an SEC opponent in Tennessee’s 66-24 win over Missouri (11/12), blocking on 75 snaps without allowing a sack, hit or pressure ... Played right tackle for 80 snaps at No. 3 Georgia (11/5) and did not allow a sack, hit or pressure ... Saw action on 68 snaps at right tackle against No. 19 Kentucky (10/29) without allowing a pressure or committing a penalty and was the highest graded offensive player in the game according to PFF ... Recognized as SEC Co-Offensive Lineman of the Week for his efforts against the Wildcats ... Blocked for 50 offensive snaps vs. UT Martin (10/22) ... Protected and paved the way for an offense that racked up 567 yards of total offense in epic win vs. No. 3 Alabama (10/15) without allowing a pressure or sack in 76 snaps at right tackle ... Tabbed SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week for his efforts against the Crimson Tide ... Did not allow a sack or a pressure and was PFF’s highest graded blocker in Tennessee’s road win at No. 25 LSU (10/8) ... Played all 72 snaps in UT’s win over No. 20 Florida (9/24) and did not allow a sack or quarterback hit ... In 54 offensive snaps vs. Akron (9/17), did not allow any pressures or commit a penalty ... Played 79 penalty-free snaps at right tackle at No. 17 Pitt (9/10) and did not allow a sack or QB hit ... Started at right tackle and played 59 offensive snaps without allowing any pressures, hurries, hits, or sacks in season opener vs. Ball State (9/1).

 

2021 (jr): Started all 13 games at left tackle and saw a team-high snap count of 922 on the season, blocking for a Tennessee offense that set program records for points scored (511) and total offense (6,174 yards) ... Played a season-high 111 offensive snaps vs. Purdue (12/30) in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl and did not allow a sack or commit a penalty ... Blocked on 60 snaps in the regular season finale vs. Vanderbilt (11/27), did not allow a sack or commit a penalty as UT racked up 441 yards of total offense, including 285 rushing yards ... Did not allow a sack or commit a penalty in 50 snaps vs. South Alabama (11/20), helping UT rack up 561 yards of total offense ... Saw action on 89 snaps vs. top-ranked Georgia (11/13) and did not allow a sack or quarterback hit ... Did not allow a sack or quarterback hit in 49 snaps in road win at No. 18 Kentucky (11/6) … Played 57 snaps at left tackle and did not allow a sack at No. 4 Alabama (10/23) ... Saw action on 83 snaps at left tackle without a penalty vs. No. 13 Ole Miss (10/16), helping the Vols pile up 467 yards of total offense ... Made sixth consecutive start at left tackle vs. South Carolina (10/9), playing 66 penalty-free snaps while helping UT rack up 472 yards of total offense ... Did not allow a pressure in 76 snaps at Mizzou (10/2) while helping Vols pile up 683 yards of total offense, including an incredible 458 rushing yards (third most in program history) ... Saw action for 68 snaps at No. 11 Florida (9/25) … Played 53 snaps in start vs. Tennessee Tech (9/18) and did not allow a sack or pressure ... Made his second straight start at left tackle vs. Pitt (9/11) and did not allow a sack or pressure in 74 snaps ... Started at left tackle in the season opener vs. Bowling Green (9/2), helping the Vols rack up 331 yards and four touchdowns on the ground ... Played 86 snaps in the opener.

 

2020 (soph): A starter in nine games at right tackle, while seeing action in all 10 contests ... Saw time on 569 total snaps … Started at right tackle and helped pave the way for a season-high 540 yards of total offense at Vanderbilt (12/12) ... Helped the Vols rush for 222 yards at No. 23 Auburn (11/21) on 67 offensive snaps ... Played a season-high 74 snaps at Arkansas (11/7) and did not allow a sack ... Did not start against Missouri.

 

2019 (fr): Started five games at right tackle and two games at right guard, while appearing in 11 contests ... Collected Freshman All-SEC honors ... Saw action on 360 offensive snaps … His sixth straight start came versus South Carolina (10/26) in the game that ignited Tennessee's six-game win streak to end the season ... Made fifth straight start at No. 1 Alabama (10/19) ... Made his fourth consecutive start vs. Mississippi State (10/12) after starting against No. 3 Georgia (10/5) ... Started for the first time of his career at right guard in UT's 45-0 win vs. Chattanooga (9/14) ... Made his collegiate debut in the season opener versus Georgia State (8/31).

 

High School: 5-star recruit and one of the nation’s Top-10 prospects coming out of Huntington High School in West Virginia … Played in the 2019 Under Armour All-America Game ... 2019 First-Team American Family Insurance All-USA ... 2018 MaxPreps Preseason All-America second team selection ... 2018 First-Team USA Today All-USA West Virginia Team ... Three-time Class AAA All-State selection by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association ... WVSWA Class AAA All-State first-team selection in 2017 and 2018 ... WVSWA Class AAA All-State second-team selection in 2016 … Led Huntington to a 12-1 record and the semifinal round of the Class AA state playoffs as a junior in 2017.

PERSONAL

Full name is Darnell Marquies Wright … Born on Aug. 10, 2001 … Son of Kimberly Adams ... Majoring in communication studies … Recipient of Flickinger Family Athletic Endowment … Twitter handle is @darnell_5232 and Instagram handle is @darnell_is_a_baller.

2021

defensive
TFL	QB HUR	TOT	TD	PD	SACKS	SOLO
0.0	0.0	1.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.0