Tennessee football: Top 10 NFL careers of Vols taken in second round

Part of the elite 1997 recruiting class, Deon Grant emerged as a key player on Tennessee football’s 1998 national championship team, coming away with five interceptions. He then broke out into a superstar in 1999 and earned All-American honors with nine interceptions, including three in a game against the Auburn Tigers, where he had a pick-six on the very first play of the game.

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Grant’s production allowed for him to leave early for the pros, and he was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the second round. The 6’2″ 215-pound free safety played there for three years, starting every game and helping them to the Super Bowl in 2003. He then spent three years and started every game with the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2004 to 2006.

In 2007, Grant joined the Seattle Seahawks and moved over to strong safety, but he once again started every game for three straight years. On the back end of his career, he became more of a versatile defensive back and joined the New York Giants, but he did start in three of their four playoff games in 2011, including the Super Bowl, so he’s got a ring.

Over the course of 11 years, Grant played in 176 games and started in 161 of them. He securdd 30 career interceptions, forced four fumbles and had 10 fumble recoveries along with 778 career tackles. Add that to his championship, and this guy belongs near the top of this list.