All for Tennessee
Fansided

Tennessee football: Ranking NFL careers of 10 Vols previously drafted by 49ers

By Caleb Calhoun

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - OCTOBER 09: Parys Haralson #98 of the San Francisco 49ers runs onto the field during player introduction before an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Candlestick Park on October 9, 2011 in San Francisco, California. The 49ers won the game 48-3. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - OCTOBER 09: Parys Haralson #98 of the San Francisco 49ers runs onto the field during player introduction before an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Candlestick Park on October 9, 2011 in San Francisco, California. The 49ers won the game 48-3. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 11
Next
Photo by Joe Murphy/Getty Images
Photo by Joe Murphy/Getty Images /

Back. Ed Morgan. 10. player. 839. 1953 (Round 24; Pick 284). Scouting Report. Pick Analysis

Not only is Ed Morgan first on this list, but he’s also the first Tennessee football player ever drafted by the San Francisco 49ers. The wingback was an extremely late pick by them in the 1953 NFL Draft, and ironically, he was one pick after his college teammate, tackle Jim Haslam, who went to the Green Bay Packers.

While in Knoxville, Morgan was part of the final elite run by Robert Neyland, or what we call the Silver Age of the Vols’ era. He played for the back to back national title teams in 1950 and 1951 and all of Neyland’s final three years. Simply put, he was part of the early 1950s resurgence that helped define the Vols’ history, similar to how 1995 to 1998 defines their modern era.

Although bigger stars like Doug Atkins, Ted Daffer, Bert Rechichar, Bud Sherrod, Bill Pearman, John Michels and Hank Lauricella headlined this era, guys like Morgan played their part. He had 75 carried for 461 yards during those three years, and he also had 110 receiving yards and a touchdown back in 1950.

With his versatile production, he was taken by the 49ers, but his career didn’t amount to much. Morgan never made the team and didn’t play in the pros. As a result, his legacy in football remains in college, and it’s why we have him down at No. 10 on this list.

Home/Vols Football