Kongbo performed even better in his 2nd season on Rocky Top as a redshirt junior, earning 29 tackles and 2.5 sacks. Al (Couture, Head Athletic Therapist) slowed me down a little bit, which was for the best, and I thank him every day for that. There are the mental scars, too, and those can last a lifetime and affect a person negatively and/or serve as motivation.“That atmosphere allowed me to come in and be myself in that locker room. Vols' Jonathan Kongbo, Bob Shoop hope to realize expectations this time. Kongbo played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for a season, prior to entering the NFL — signing as an undrafted free agent with the San Francisco 49ers.Hopes were high for Kongbo during his redshirt senior season, and he played very well leading up to his big match-up against Auburn. Now, though, Kongbo will have a chance to play in the CFL and prove that he has what it takes to perform on the field again. Initially, I thought I was Superman and kept saying, ‘I’ll be good in two weeks… I’ll be good in two weeks…’ But he said, ‘Nah… I’m going to be very honest: you’re going to miss the (NFL) draft.
Then once I got hurt, people kind of forgot about me, forgot that I was a good player, forgot the things I had done in the past. I’m not really big into superstition, but during that game, I was praying a lot and the play before I got hurt I remember saying a quick prayer because I was doing so well. 1 JUCO prospect in the country on full display.Former Tennessee defensive lineman Jonathan Kongbo has been working hard to get opportunities at the NFL level, and now it appears as if his hard work is finally paying off, as the former Volunteers standout has now earned the chance to participate in his first NFL Camp. 1 JUCO prospect in the country on full display.Watch: Harrison Bailey Makes First Appearance in Tennessee UniformNCAA Allows All FBS Programs to Move Season Opener UpKongbo was not selected in any of the 7 rounds during the 2019 NFL Draft, but later earned an opportunity up north after being drafted as the No.
When Jeremy Pruitt was hired as head coach, he brought with him a new 3-4 defensive scheme, and Kongbo was moved to outside linebacker.The Vols have had a number of players throughout the years play in the CFL, but Kongbo is the first Vol to be selected in the actual CFL Draft since Paul Yatkowski was taken with the No. The former Vol has inked his contract with Seattle, and he got paid.The 24-year-old defensive end originally signed with the University of Wyoming, where he redshirted during his freshman season, before transferring to Arizona Western University. Then, Kongbo left Wyoming and enrolled at Arizona Western College in the JUCO ranks. Highlights from Vols’ 14th spring practice.
His redshirt senior season ended after five games, and he totaled 11 tackles, an interception, and a pass defended.The 6-foot-5, 255-pound defender could play either outside linebacker or defensive end for Winnipeg, though it seems likely he will miss most if not all of the 2019 CFL season.Kongbo was born in the Congo, but his family moved to Canada when he was five. “I was asking him about the fastest timelines possible. I found myself struggling with who I was outside of football. He had his best game against Nebraska in the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl \u2014 recording 4 tackles and his first ever career sack. Kongbo suffered a season-ending ACL injury during Tennessee’s road victory over Auburn during the 2018 season.