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
3 of 11
Next
Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images
Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images /

Defensive Back. Teddy Ganes. player. Pick Analysis. 2002 (Round 7; Pick 256). 9. 839. Scouting Report

Sticking with players who were productive in college and didn’t make the pros, Teddy Gaines was part of a Tennessee football secondary in the early 2000s that showed dramatic development in two years. A big reason for the Vols’ rebuild in 2000 was them losing Deon Grant and Dwayne Goodrich. Gaines, Andrew Lott, Willie Miles and Rashad Baker ushered in a new era back there.

After struggling early in 2000, Gaines helped them turn a corner in 2001 with the help of an elite rush defense. That was a big reason the team was able to go 11-2 and finish in the top five. It was just one upset loss to the LSU Tigers away from playing the Miami Hurricanes for the national championship in the Rose Bowl.

With his success, Gaines was a part of the deepest draft class in UT history, as he was one of the 10 guys taken. However, he was a late pick in the seventh round, and he never actually became anything in the NFL. There is no record of him ever playing a game at that level.

However, Gaines is above Ed Morgan because when two players see no action in the pros, the tiebreakers are how many years they at least inked a contract and how high they were drafted. Gaines was drafted higher than Morgan in terms of rounds and draft number, so that is what puts him out in front.

Home/Vols Football