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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 Focus on Sport/Getty Images
Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images /

5. 1983 – Johnny Majors

1982 record: 6-5-1 (3-2-1); Peach Bowl

Number of NFL Draft picks: 6

  • Willie Gault, WR (Chicago Bears: Round 1; Pick 18)
  • Darryal Wilson, WR (New England Patriots: Round 2; Pick 47)
  • Mike Cofer, LB (Detroit Lions: Round 3; Pick 67)
  • Mike Miller, WR (Green Bay Packers: Round 4; Pick 104)
  • Lee Jenkins, DB (New York Giants: Round 11; Pick 281)
  • Ken Jones, OL (Kansas City Chiefs: Round 12; Pick 315)

Given all of these players, you wonder why Tennessee football struggled so much in 1982. To be fair, the Vols did end their 11-year losing streak to the Alabama Crimson Tide in this season, shocking them 35-28 when Bama was ranked No. 2 and undefeated.

Willie Gault is the most notable guy in this class, spending five years with the Chicago Bears and winning a Super Bowl as their No. 1 receiver before playing another six with the Los Angeles Raiders. Meeting him in that Super Bowl was fellow wide receiver Darryal Wilson, who did play for three years with the New England Patriots.

However, linebacker Mike Cofer was the star of this draft class. Cofer played with the Detroit Lions for 11 years and actually made a Pro Bowl in 1988, something Gault ever even did. He finished his career with 62.5 sacks, an interception and 10 fumble recoveries.

Mike Miller had one year with the New Orleans Saints and another with the New York Giants, while Lee Jenkins and Ken Jones never made it into the league. Still, there were six draftees, four who saw pro experience, and two who became starters, one winning a Super Bowl and the other reaching a Pro Bowl. That’s a great class.

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