On Tuesday afternoon, offensive lineman Javontez Spraggins said an emotional goodbye to his Tennessee Vols teammates, coaches, and fans.
Spraggins is declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft after spending the previous five seasons at Tennessee.
“Firstly, I would like to thank God for the life I’ve been given to share with my family,” Spraggins wrote in an Instagram post. “My talents and continued triumphs reflect the unending love and support of my faith, family, friends, and fans, for which I shall be eternally grateful. I am grateful to my family for supporting me through it all, as well as to the family members who are unable to be around to see my future develop; I do this for them.
“To all of my former coaches, I am eternally thankful for that experience and lessons. To Coach Heupel, Coach [Elarbee], and the staff, you have instilled a faith in what VFL means to me and to so many others, and I know that the legacy will continue. Thank you to my teammates. Those who stayed, those who left, those who I am leaving behind for the next journey—you have become a brotherhood for life. Much love. Vol Nation, your love, support, and fanatic creation of everything orange has been at the heart of every block I made, every step I took, and every hit absorbed. Running through the Power ‘T’ and being at Rocky Top has made my years here worthwhile. This place will always be my home. As a departing senior, I ask for your continued support as I take the next steps and declare for the NFL Draft.”
Spraggins, a former three-star recruit who signed with the Vols during the 2020 recruiting cycle, will be remembered as one of the most underrated players in school history.
The East Saint Louis native appeared in 56 career games for the Vols, including 48 starts. Spraggins was a fixture on Tennessee’s offensive line during the difficult transition from the Jeremy Pruitt era to the Josh Heupel era.
After Pruitt was fired, numerous Vols players remained in Knoxville, and Spraggins was just as vital as the others. Heupel and the UT coaching staff will have their work cut out for them in replacing him.
