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Tennessee football: Ranking all 15 first NFL Draft classes of Vols head coaches

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee Head Coach Josh Heupel congratulates wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. (1) during senior day ceremonies before the start of the NCAA college football game between the Tennesse Volunteers and Vanderbilt Commodores in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, November 27, 2021.Kns Tennessee Vanderbilt Football
Tennessee Head Coach Josh Heupel congratulates wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. (1) during senior day ceremonies before the start of the NCAA college football game between the Tennesse Volunteers and Vanderbilt Commodores in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, November 27, 2021.Kns Tennessee Vanderbilt Football /
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Oct 9, 2010; Athens, GA, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Derek Dooley looks on against the Georgia Bulldogs during the first half at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Paul Abell-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 9, 2010; Athens, GA, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Derek Dooley looks on against the Georgia Bulldogs during the first half at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Paul Abell-USA TODAY Sports /

Record in 2010: 6-7 (3-5). 11. 839. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Derek Dooley. player. Class: 2011

Number of NFL Draft picks: 2

  • Round 4: Luke Stocker – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Pick 104)
  • Round 5: Denarius Moore – Oakland Raiders (Pick 148)

Derek Dooley inherited such a disaster that it’s a wonder he got anybody drafted from his first team. Remember the situation he walked into. He was Tennessee football’s third head coach in three years after Phillip Fulmer was fired in 2008 and Lane Kiffin left for the USC Trojans at the end of the 2009 season.

On top of that, players drafted from Dooley’s first year would have come from the Vols’ 2006, 2007 and 2008 recruiting classes. Well, the 2006 and 2008 classes were the two worst of Fulmer’s tenure, and half the 2007 class was no longer on the team by 2010.

Anyway, in spite of all that, Dooley had two players drafted, and both picks somewhat worked out. Luke Stocker has enjoyed an 11-year career in the pros, and he actually may not be done. Although Denarius Moore only lasted five years, he was a significant contributor for a while.

Despite fewer picks than Bill Battle, Dooley’s two picks went higher than all three of Battle’s. As a result, this is a better draft class in Tennessee football history. The NFL success and the situation they played in was actually a testament to Dooley doing a good job his first year, even if things went south after that.

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