NFL Draft: Vols five most productive classes with two or fewer selections

2. 1980

Number of NFL Draft picks: 2

Notable players:

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

Coming of Johnny Majors’ first bowl season as Tennessee football’s head coach in 1979, the Vols were about to enter a new era. They were set to rebuild in 1980 before Majors’ program took off, and that was despite this NFL Draft class being so light. Still, even with this light class, there was pro talent in there.

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Roland James headlined this class, as he spent 11 years with the New England Patriots. A first-round draft pick, he lived up to his billing, playing in 145 games and starting in 122 of them. Playing strong safety, he had 29 interceptions throughout his career and was a big part of the franchise making it to the Super Bowl in 1985.

Craig Puki could not match James’ long-term success, as he only played for three years. However, in his first two years with the San Francisco 49ers, he played in 32 games and earned six starts on the 1981 Super Bowl championship team. In 1982, Puki joined the St. Louis Cardinals, where he saw action in seven more games before his career ended.

So looking at this class as a whole, the Vols had two players selected who played for a total of 14 years. Both players were starters on teams that made the Super Bowl. One player lasted 11 years, and the other won a Super Bowl championship.