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Tennessee football: Ranking all 10 Vols head coaches’ second NFL Draft classes

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 11: Detailed view of the checkered endzone at Neyland Stadium during a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Chattanooga Mocs on October 11, 2014 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 45-10. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 11: Detailed view of the checkered endzone at Neyland Stadium during a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Chattanooga Mocs on October 11, 2014 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 45-10. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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10. 1938

Robert Neyland

Number of NFL Draft picks: 0

Robert Neyland is the person we discussed in our opening slide who had not completed his second year on the job as Tennessee football’s head coach when the 1938 draft happened. He had completed his 11th year. However, ironically, he had completed his second year of a stint, his second stint, as he did not coach in 1935 due to military service. Still, the draft began in 1936.

Anyway, despite a player being taken in both 1936 and 1937, and despite Neyland going 6-2-2 and 6-3-1 in the previous two years, the Vols did not have anybody taken in this year’s draft. It was kind of surprising because they were two years removed from a top 20 finish, and they still had somebody taken after a losing season under W.H. Britton in 1935.

There were also two more rounds added to this draft than the previous one. Still, the telling sign of UT having nobody drafted wasn’t a sign of lack of talent. It was a sign of Neyland having a very young team and everybody coming back en route to producing a legendary run.

Following this draftless year, Rocky Top would enter its golden age, winning three straight SEC Championships, three straight undefeated regular seasons and winning two national titles in three years. Notable guys like Bowden Wyatt, George Cafego and Bob Suffridge would turn this program into an NFL factory, and 1938 would be the last draft they were shut out of until 1960.

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