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Top 10 NFL careers of Tennessee football O-Linemen

By Caleb Calhoun

Raleigh McKenzie #63, Guard and Center for the Washington Redskins during the American Football Conference West game against the San Diego Chargers on 21 September 1986 at the Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego, California, United States. The Redskins won the game 30 - 27. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Allsport/Getty Images)
Raleigh McKenzie #63, Guard and Center for the Washington Redskins during the American Football Conference West game against the San Diego Chargers on 21 September 1986 at the Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego, California, United States. The Redskins won the game 30 - 27. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Allsport/Getty Images) /
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Photo by: Kidwiler Collection/Diamond Images/Getty Image
Photo by: Kidwiler Collection/Diamond Images/Getty Image /

1948-1950. Jack Stroud. player. 839. 5. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Years in NFL: 12

Teams played for:

  • New York Giants, 1953-1964

As Robert Neyland tried to bring back his magic in his third stint in the late 1940s, Jack Stroud was a big part of why he could revitalize the program. Tennessee football appeared to be behind the times in the single wing, but Stroud joined Ted Daffer, John Michels and Bill “Pug” Pearman to help revive the line, creating stars like Hank Lauricella.

The result of all of this was UT winning the national championship behind Stroud and co. in 1950. They won it again after he left in 1951, but he helped to set the standard. He was taken by the New York Giants in the fifth round of the 1951 NFL Draft, but replicating his college coach in Neyland, he spent two years away from the game so he could serve in the Korean War.

Stroud didn’t join New York until 1953, but he immediately became a reliable player. At 6’1″ 235 pounds, he appeared in 18 games and started in six of them his first two years. By 1955, it was clear he could alternate between right guard and right tackle, and he did that for the rest of his career from 1955 to 1964.

In the process, Stroud, who passed away in 1994, made three Pro Bowl appearances, all as a guard. He also helped New York win the 1956 NFL Championship. So he was an all-star and a champion. After 12 years in the pros, Stroud hung up his clears at the end of the 1964 season. He finished with 132 appearances in regular season games and 110 starts.

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