Five Vols have been named to the first-ever Senior Bowl Watch List: linebacker Herman Lathers, tight end Mychal Rivera, defensive back Marsalis Teague, lineman Dallas Thomas and defensive back Prentiss Waggner.

Lathers returns to action this season after missing all of 2011 with a fractured ankle. Lathers enters his senior year as the Vols’ starting weakside linebacker. In 2010, Lathers made 75 tackles including 4.5 tackles for a loss. In 25 career games, he has 127 tackles with seven for a loss. He is a three-time SEC Academic Honor Roll selection.

Rivera is on the Mackey Award Watch List presented to the nation’s top tight end. He caught 29 passes for 344 yards and one touchdown while starting all 12 games for the Vols in 2012, including a career-high, 85-yard receiving effort against Georgia. In 25 career games, he has caught 40 passes for 466 yards and one score. Rivera finished third in the SEC in receptions and yards receiving in 2011 and also ranked second on the Vols in both categories.

Teague, a former wide receiver with the Vols, enters his final season as a Vol battling for the starting job at left cornerback. Teague played in 11 games last season, starting eight, and made 27 tackles. In his career, Teague has 75 career tackles, including 46 as a sophomore in 2010. He also had eight of his 10 career passes defended in 2010.

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