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Tennessee football: Ranking Vols 10 NFL Draft classes after unranked bowl seasons

By Caleb Calhoun

NEW YORK - APRIL 22: Eric Berry (R) from the Tennessee Volunteers is greeted by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after the Kansas City Chiefs selected Berry #5 overall in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 22, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)
NEW YORK - APRIL 22: Eric Berry (R) from the Tennessee Volunteers is greeted by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after the Kansas City Chiefs selected Berry #5 overall in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 22, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Herb Snitzer/Getty Images
Photo by Herb Snitzer/Getty Images /

7. 1980 – Johnny Majors

1979 record: 7-5 (3-3); Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl

Number of NFL Draft picks: 2 

  • Roland James, DB (New England Patriots: Round 1; Pick 14)
  • Craig Puki, LB (San Francisco 49ers: Round 3; Pick 77)

Again, we’re looking at a two-man draft. This was coming off Johnny Majors’ first bowl season as head coach of the Tennessee football program, and he was about to have his second losing season in four years and third season in which he failed to capture a winning record. That was surprising because he didn’t lose a lot from this team.

Only Roland James and Craig Puki were taken in the NFL. James, by himself, carries this class to its No. 7 spot, as it would be much worse otherwise. Over 11 years, James was a regular with the New England Patriots. He had 29 career interceptions, starting at strong safety almost every season, and he helped them get to the Super Bowl in 1985.

Craig Puki was a bit of a different story. He played two years with the San Francisco 49ers, winning a Super Bowl championship with the 1981 team. That year, he actually started six games and appeared in every one of them, so he earned that ring as much as anybody, which is a big deal. After that, though, he only had one more year, playing with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1982.

Still, James’ 11 years and Puki’s Super Bowl title within his three years are enough to earn these guys, in this small draft class, a spot at No. 7. Despite being thinner than Majors’ 1982 class, it had more quality production at the next level.

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