Tennessee football: Ranking all head coaches’ final NFL Draft classes

Tennessee wide receiver Josh Palmer (5) poses for a photo with Tennessee Head Coach Jeremy Pruitt before a game between Tennessee and Texas A&M in Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020.
Tennessee wide receiver Josh Palmer (5) poses for a photo with Tennessee Head Coach Jeremy Pruitt before a game between Tennessee and Texas A&M in Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020. /
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Tennessee football is one of the top 10 college teams of the 1930s and 40s under coach Robert Neyland, right, at the College Football Hall of Fame.1strangeneylandhof
Tennessee football is one of the top 10 college teams of the 1930s and 40s under coach Robert Neyland, right, at the College Football Hall of Fame.1strangeneylandhof /

player. Scouting Report. Record in 1940: 10-1 (5-0). Robert Neyland (2nd Stint). 839. Pick Analysis. Class: 1941. 6

Number of NFL Draft picks: 4

  • Round 2: Abe Shires – Cleveland Rams (Pick 14)
  • Round 3: Bob Foxx – Chicago Cardinals (Pick 17)
  • Round 6: Bob Suffridge – Pittsburgh Steelers (Pick 42)
  • Round 6: Ed Cifers – Washington Football Team (Pick 50)

There was no NFL Draft after Robert Neyland ended his first stint with Tennessee football in 1935. It would come a year later, and we already covered W.H. Britton’s draft class. Neyland’s second stint, though, brought in the most dominant period in UT history.

When Neyland left again at the end of the 1940 season, it was on the heels of one of the most dominant three-year runs ever. The Vols went undefeated and untied every regular season from 1938 to 1940 and didn’t even allow a point in the 1939 regular season. They also went 11-0 in 1938 and had a 23-game wining streak from 1937 to 1939.

This all manifested itself with a loaded 1940 NFL Draft, when George Cafego went first overall, and another loaded one in 1941. This had four top 50 picks, which was incredibly impressive. Three of the four players on here earned All-American honors in tackle Abe Shires, back Bob Foxx and guard Bob Suffridge, who is UT’s only three-time All-American from 1938 to 1940.

Foxx never logged any NFL time but played Minor League Baseball and then became an assistant coach. Shires played seven games with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1945. Suffridge played 20 games and had 10 starts with Philly in 1941 and 1945. Both of them had their careers halted due to military service in World War II.

End Ed Cifers, ironically the only player who wasn’t an All-American in this class, had the best career. He also served in World War II but played for Washington in 1941, 1942 and 1946 before playing for the Chicago Bears in 1947 and 1948. His career includes 56 games, 35 starts, and a Pro Bowl and NFL Championship in 1942.