All for Tennessee
Fansided

Ranking Tennessee football’s previous 10 draft classes with five picks

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee's (98) Parys Haralson heads for the fans at the end of the fifth overtime and their win over Alabama. 10/25/2003Utalabama6 Mp227
Tennessee's (98) Parys Haralson heads for the fans at the end of the fifth overtime and their win over Alabama. 10/25/2003Utalabama6 Mp227 /
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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 /

9. 1958

  • Round 3: Bill Anderson – Washington Football Team (Pick 31)
  • Round 6: Bobby Gordon – Chicago Cardinals (Pick 63)
  • Round 22: Al Carter – Chicago Bears (Pick 257)
  • Round 24: Bobby Sandlin – Baltimore Colts (Pick 285)
  • Round 30: Tommy Bronson – Detroit Lions (Pick 360)

This was the last somewhat deep draft class for the Vols under Bowden Wyatt and before they moved away from the single wing in the 1960s. The 1940 class has a case to be above 1958 since it had more players actually contribute in the pros and had excuses for no long careers. However, Bill Anderson carried the torch high for Tennessee football’s 1958 NFL Draft class.

Anderson, who passed away in 2017 and was Tennessee football’s color commentator alongside John Ward for 31 years, spent eight years in the pros, appearing in 98 games and making 65 starts at tight end. His first six years were with Washington, and he made back to back Pro Bowls in 1959 and 1960.

After that, Anderson retired, but he then came back and played for the Green Bay Packers, where he won back to back NFL Championships and the first Super Bowl. He finished his career with 178 catches for 3,048 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Beyond Anderson, the only other Vol from this class to make it in the pros was Bobby Gordon, who started 23 games and appeared in 25 over two years, one in the NFL with the Chicago Cardinals in 1958 and the other in the AFL with the Houston Oilers in 1960.

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