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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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Sep 22, 2018; Knoxville, TN, USA; Checkerboard end zone at Neyland Stadium before a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Florida Gators. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 22, 2018; Knoxville, TN, USA; Checkerboard end zone at Neyland Stadium before a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Florida Gators. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports /

Class: 1954. Record in 1953: 6-4-1 (3-2-1). 10. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Harvey Robinson. 839

Number of NFL Draft picks: 2

  • Round 8: Bill Barbish – Cleveland Browns (Pick 95)
  • Round 10: Bob Fisher – Pittsburgh Steelers (Pick 115)

Another head coach who took over Tennessee football when it was riding high, Harvey Robinson had the daunting task of replacing Robert Neyland after he retired for good. Neyland had won two national titles the previous three years but retired at the end of the 1952 season and named Robinson his successor.

Most of the top-notch talent from the title teams had been taken in the previous two NFL Drafts, though, so Robinson wasn’t going to have a loaded class his first year on the job. Bill Barbish was a back, and Bob Fisher was a tackle.

In terms of NFL success, this class is at the bottom, even below Jeremy Pruitt. However, once again, this ranking doesn’t go by NFL success. It only goes by how deep the class is. Robinson’s first class had as many picks as Dooley’s, and they were higher.

As a result, Robinson had to be put higher on the list. It was still a mediocre class, and Neyland probably knew that, which is why he let Robinson stay on after going just 6-4-1. However, going 4-6 the next year with a much better draft class showed he was underachieving with NFL talent, which is why Neyland and Tennessee football had to move on.

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