Tennessee football: Top 10 NFL careers of Vols taken in second round
Pick Analysis. Running Back. 1994; Pick 42. Charlie Garner. 54. Scouting Report. 5. player
Like Dale Carter and Chuck Smith, Charlie Garner was an elite junior college transfer in the early 1990s. He joined Tennessee football in 1992 and immediately bumped James Stewart, Mose Phillips and Aaron Hayden as their top rusher, gaining nearly 2,100 yards and over 100 receiving yards with 10 touchdowns in just two years.
The 5’10” 190-pound back was taken in the second round by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1994, where he was a reliable contributor for five years. Garner then joined the San Francisco 49ers, where he blossomed into a star.
Over two years in San Francisco, Garner gained over 1,200 yards and then over 1,100 yards rushing each of his first two years in San Francisco along with over 500 and over 600 yards each year, earning a Pro Bowl appearance in 2000 with 10 total touchdowns and over 1,700 yards from scrimmage.
In 2001, Garner went to the Oakland Raiders and became a true all-purpose back. He helped them to the Super Bowl in 2002 with over 900 yards both rushing and receiving, and he stayed there through 2003 before finishing his 11-year career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2004.
Garner appeared in 147 total games and started in 90 of them for his career. He rushed for 7,097 yards and 39 touchdowns, averaging over four and a half yards a carry, while catching 419 passes for 3,711 yards and 12 more touchdowns.