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Tennessee football: Ranking. previous eight WRs picked first in Vols draft classes

By Caleb Calhoun

Oct 24, 2020; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee wide receiver Josh Palmer (5) runs the ball after a successful catch during a game between Alabama and Tennessee at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020. Mandatory Credit: Caitie McMekin-USA TODAY NETWORK
Oct 24, 2020; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee wide receiver Josh Palmer (5) runs the ball after a successful catch during a game between Alabama and Tennessee at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020. Mandatory Credit: Caitie McMekin-USA TODAY NETWORK /
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Sep 30, 2017; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers former quarterback Peyton Manning and Joey Kent after a halftime ceremony during the game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 30, 2017; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers former quarterback Peyton Manning and Joey Kent after a halftime ceremony during the game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /

Pick Analysis. 1997. Tennessee Oilers. 6. Scouting Report. Joey Kent. player. 35

Round 2; Pick 46

If anybody contributed to the national rise of Peyton Manning, Joey Kent did so. He was Manning’s favorite target from 1994 to 1996. Over his four-year career, he set every career receiving record in Tennessee football history, including 183 catches for 2,814 yards and 25 touchdowns. All three records stand to this day.

Kent’s success allowed him to make history again, as he was drafted in the second round by the Tennessee Oilers. The franchise had just moved from Houston and was set to play the first ever major league sports regular season game in the state of Tennessee later that year.

Not only did Kent play for Tennessee the entire time they were the Oilers and played in Memphis, but he also played for them their first year as the Titans in Nashville, joining them on their Super Bowl run. Simply put, he was part of a lot of Tennessee sports history. This is why he was the top UT player taken in the 1997 draft, one that was thin because of so much returning talent.

However, as an individual NFL player, Kent did not amount to much. He had 13 catches for 159 yards and just one touchdown in three years with the Oilers/Titans. Although he spent time with the Indianapolis Colts (who were led by Manning) and Minnesota Vikings in 2000, he never played again after 1999.

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