Tennessee defensive back Jalen McMurray has earned one of college football’s top postseason honors. The veteran corner, who transferred from Temple ahead of the 2024 season, has accepted an invitation to play in the 2026 Panini Senior Bowl, the all-star showcase announced Wednesday on social media.
McMurray continues Tennessee’s recent streak of producing Senior Bowl talent, ensuring at least one Vol will be represented in Mobile on Jan. 31 at South Alabama’s Hancock Whitney Stadium. The game kicks off at 2:30 p.m. EST on NFL Network, which will also televise practices throughout the week.
After serving as Tennessee’s third cornerback in 2024, McMurray stepped into a full-time starting role at Star in 2025. The fifth-year senior posted 54 tackles, six tackles for loss, two sacks and three pass breakups across 12 games, including nine starts. His 532 defensive snaps ranked fifth on the team, and he earned a 71.0 season grade from Pro Football Focus.
A former two-star recruit from Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C., McMurray spent three seasons at Temple, where he was a team captain and started 23 of 27 games. He recorded 90 tackles, 11 pass breakups, 2.5 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and an interception with the Owls before entering the transfer portal.
McMurray appeared in all 13 games for Tennessee in 2024, making one start and contributing 14 tackles and four pass breakups. He spent the 2025 spring filling in for injured corner Jermod McCoy before moving to Star over the summer following the addition of Colorado transfer Colton Hood.
Both McCoy and Hood are projected first-round picks, but McMurray’s Senior Bowl selection highlights his own rising NFL Draft profile.
“I love this place,” McMurray said during Tennessee’s bye week last month. “It’s been a blessing to be able to come here and honestly just have the story that my college career has — starting somewhere else and then coming here and kind of proving myself. I feel like it’s definitely been a fun experience and fun time here.”
He added that his portal journey “could have gone multiple different ways,” but he felt fortunate to land at Tennessee and contribute immediately.
McMurray opened the 2025 season with seven tackles, one sack and a pass breakup that set up an interception against Syracuse. He posted strong outings against Georgia (seven tackles), Mississippi State (five tackles, one tackle for loss, one pass breakup) and Arkansas. He added six tackles and two tackles for loss against UAB and 1.5 tackles for loss against New Mexico State.
Vols secondary coach Willie Martinez praised McMurray’s versatility and leadership.
“He’s a very versatile player and that’s why we took him,” Martinez said. “He could play inside, he could play outside, but it’s really his attitude, his investment. He’s actually coaching on the field — since the day he’s been here, he’s been like that. He’s been a coach on the field, and it doesn’t matter if it’s a younger guy or an older guy.”
Martinez credited McMurray’s growth and consistency as critical to Tennessee’s defensive success, especially at the demanding Star position.
Across 52 career games at Temple and Tennessee, McMurray has totaled 158 tackles, 18 pass breakups, 8.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and two forced fumbles. He will now showcase his skills in front of NFL scouts and executives in Mobile as he prepares for the next chapter of his career.
About the Author
Dalton Tinklenberg is the Founder and Media Director of The Scouting Depot, where he leads comprehensive coverage of college and professional football. He is an active member of some of the most respected organizations in sports journalism, including the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA), Maxwell Football Club, Online News Association (ONA), National Football Foundation (NFF), and the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE).
Before launching The Scouting Depot, Dalton worked with Blue HQ Media, where he covered major sporting events such as the Indianapolis 500, the College Football Playoff, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
Through his professional affiliations and on-the-ground experience, Dalton combines deep knowledge of the game with recognized standards of storytelling, editorial excellence, and authenticity in sports coverage.
