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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Assorted notes and sketched plays by Robert Neyland are part of an exhibit named “Lighting the Way” currently on display at Hodges Library on campus on Monday, August 26, 2019.Kns Utyear1 0930 Bp Jpg
Assorted notes and sketched plays by Robert Neyland are part of an exhibit named “Lighting the Way” currently on display at Hodges Library on campus on Monday, August 26, 2019.Kns Utyear1 0930 Bp Jpg /

Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Class: 1953. player. 839. Record in 1952: 8-2-1 (5-0-1). Robert Neyland (3rd stint). 2

Number of NFL Draft picks: 7

  • Round 1: Doug Atkins – Cleveland Browns (Pick 11)
  • Round 10: Frank Holohan – Pittsburgh Steelers (Pick 115)
  • Round 24: Jim Haslam – Green Bay Packers (Pick 284)
  • Round 24: Ed Morgan – San Francisco 49ers (Pick 285)
  • Round 25: John Michels – Philadelphia Eagles (Pick 297)
  • Round 29: Pat Shires – Washington Football Team (Pick 340)
  • Round 30: Andy Myers – Cleveland Browns (Pick 358)

While the end of Robert Neyland’s first stint was the early part of the NFL Draft and was somewhat tampered down due to the country’s growing involvement in World War II, the end of his third stint made Tennessee football a national program. He built that dynasty with stars.

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National titles in 1950 and 1951 and a Top 10 finish and Cotton Bowl appearance in 1952 is how he ended his tenure. The players who did that loaded the NFL Draft. Most notable among them is future Hall-of-Fame defensive end Doug Atkins, who spent two years with the Cleveland Browns, 12 with the Chicago Bears and three with the New Orleans Saints.

Although this class was loaded with draft picks, it wasn’t loaded with NFL success. Tackles Frank Holohan and Jim Haslam, backs Ed Morgan and Pat Shires and guard Andy Myers never logged any minutes. Guard John Michels was the only other player to do so, and he only played one year, appearing in 11 games with just one start in Philly.

Related Story. Vols' five longest NFL Draft first-round droughts. light

None of that matters, though. The class itself was loaded and a great way for Neyland to end his long tenure on Rocky Top. He built UT into a national brand with wins on the field, and he also built it into a national brand with individual stars here.