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

Developing under Phillip Fulmer, Bruce Wilkerson joined Tennessee football and redshirted in 1982, became a second-stringer in 1983 and earned a starting job in 1984. He then was a critical part of the legendary 1985 SEC and Sugar bowl Championship team that restored the Vols to prominence and earned back to back All-SEC honors in 1985 and 1986.

As a result, the 6’5″ 295-pound tackle ended up being taken in the second round of the NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Raiders, where he spent the first eight years of his pro career. During that time Wilkerson was a regular starter, playing right guard his first two years and then alternating between right tackle and left tackle over the next six years.

In 1995, Wilkerson joined the expansion Jacksonville Jaguars as they went 4-12. However, he then finished his career with a bang, as he joined the Green Bay Packers in 1996. Despite not being a regular starter by then, Wilkerson still appeared in every game in 1996 and 1997 and did earn five starts, winning a Super Bowl championship and making two with Brett Favre and Reggie White.

Wilkerson finished his career after 1997, playing for 11 years, appearing in 147 games and starting in 94 of them. His tenure combined with the fact that he won a Super Bowl ring make him one of the most consistent Vols ever to play in the pros.