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Tennessee football’s top 10 NFL WRs of all time

By Caleb Calhoun

14 Oct 1979: Wide receiver Stanley Morgan of the New England Patriots runs down the field during a game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago Illinois. The Patriots won the game 27 - 7.
14 Oct 1979: Wide receiver Stanley Morgan of the New England Patriots runs down the field during a game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago Illinois. The Patriots won the game 27 - 7. /
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Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images
Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images /

839. Scouting Report. 1. player. Pick Analysis. 1973-1976. Years in NFL: 14. Stanley Morgan

Teams played for:

  • New England Patriots, 1977-1989
  • Indianapolis Colts, 1990

There was never any debate about this one. Stanley Morgan and Larry Seivers were the originals in turning Tennessee football into Wide Receiver U, and the final year for both of them on Rocky Top was the year before Johnny Majors arrived.

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Seivers earned the All-American honors, twice in 1975 and 1976. Morgan, however, became UT’s first truly successful NFL wide receiver. To this day, he is also the most successful. In 1990, he was taken in the first round by the New England Patriots, and he remained there for 13 years as a model of consistency and productivity.

The 5’11” 181-pound receiver went over 1,000 yards three times while in New England, and he led the league in touchdown receptions with 12 in 1979. From 1979 to 1981, he led the league each year in yards per reception. Morgan was a huge part of the Pats getting to the Super Bowl in 1985, only to get destroyed by the Chicago Bears.

In addition to being an elite receiver, Morgan was the punt returner for New England in four of his first five seasons. He averaged over 10 yards a punt return in those four years, and he ran one back for a touchdown. However, his most productive season overall came in 1986, when he had 84 receptions for 1,491 yards and 10 touchdowns.

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After 13 years, Morgan spent one year with the Indianapolis Colts, his final in the NFL. He finished his career with 557 receptions for 10,716 yards and 72 receiving touchdowns plus a punt return touchdown. In addition to his statistical accomplishments, he made four Pro Bowls. Simply put, he’s Tennessee football’s greatest NFL receiver ever, and it’s pretty clear-cut.

For other posts ranking Tennessee football players at specific positions with the greatest NFL careers, please click here.

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