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Tennessee football: Vols 5 deepest NFL Draft years following losing seasons

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 15: Mychal Rivera #81 of the Tennessee Volunteers against the Florida Gators at Neyland Stadium on September 15, 2012 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Sommers II/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 15: Mychal Rivera #81 of the Tennessee Volunteers against the Florida Gators at Neyland Stadium on September 15, 2012 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Sommers II/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images /

5. 2013

2012 Tennessee football record: 5-7 (1-7)

NFL Draft picks: 4

  • Cordarrelle Patterson, Wide receiver, Minnesota Vikings (Round 1, pick 29)
  • Justin Hunter, Wide receiver, Tennessee Titans (Round 2, pick 34)
  • Dallas Thomas, Offensive lineman, Miami Dolphins (Round 3, pick 77)
  • Mychal Rivera, Tight end, Oakland Raiders (Round 6, pick 184)

It was coming off the year that got Derek Dooley fired. Make no mistake, he deserved to be fired after three straight losing seasons as head coach for Tennessee football. But we also have to applaud the job he did in bringing in talent.

This year’s draft was one of raw offensive talent, one reason Vols fans are happy to have Jim Chaney back. It was the atrocious defense that led them to a 5-7 season in 2012, but the offense was historically great.

Tyler Bray put up insane passing numbers throwing to Cordarrelle Patterson and Justin Hunter with Mychal Riveras as the tight end option. That’s why all three of those guys got drafted. Dallas Thomas rounded out this draft class as an offensive lineman, and the next year saw two more linemen taken in Zach Fulton and Ja’Wuan James.

Add in Bray’s successful career in the NFL as a backup, and it’s clear that Dooley brought some great offense to Rocky Top, even if his tenure didn’t work out. As a result, the draft class before Butch Jones’s arrival is one of the best ever for the Vols coming off a season with losing record. And it was better than this year’s class will be.

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