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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 1, 2018; Charlotte, NC, USA; A Tennessee Volunteers helmet is seen pregame before the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 1, 2018; Charlotte, NC, USA; A Tennessee Volunteers helmet is seen pregame before the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports /

Bowden Wyatt. player. 839. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Class: 1956. Record in 1955: 6-3-1 (3-2-1). 9

Number of NFL Draft picks: 2

  • Round 5: Tom Tracy – Detroit Lions (Pick 50)
  • Round 12: Buddy Cruze – Chicago Bears (Pick 143)

Immediately after Harvey Robinson’s second NFL Draft class, which saw six players taken in 1955, Bowden Wyatt came in. He was another Robert Neyland protege who was brought in by Neyland to maintain the success of the single-wing, and early in his tenure, it looked like he’d be successful doing just that.

However, it was clear 1955 would always be a rebuilding year because of all the talent that left from the 1954 team, making the 4-6 record even more unforgivable. Wyatt’s first NFL Draft class put that on display with, once again, just two picks.

Robinson’s first class’s lowest pick went lower than the one in Wyatt’s first class, but Wyatt’s higher pick went much higher. Tom Tracy being a top 50 pick was enough to push Wyatt’s first class over Robinson’s on this list. In terms of NFL success, Tracy became a Pro Bowl running back for the Detroit Lions.

Cruze spent two years in the pros, one with the Chicago Bears and the other with the Baltimore Colts. However, so few guys going in the draft was the result of so many weapons returning, and that showed with UT’s 1956 10-1 and SEC Championship season led by Johnny Majors, where they went undefeated in the regular season.

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