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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November 13, 2011; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Parys Haralson (98) stands in the player tunnel before the game against the New York Giants at Candlestick Park. The 49ers defeated the Giants 27-20. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
November 13, 2011; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Parys Haralson (98) stands in the player tunnel before the game against the New York Giants at Candlestick Park. The 49ers defeated the Giants 27-20. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

3. 2006

  • Round 1: Jason Allen – Miami Dolphins (Pick 16)
  • Round 5: Parys Haralson – San Francisco 49ers (Pick 140)
  • Round 5: Omar Gaither – Philadelphia Eagles (Pick 168)
  • Round 5: Jesse Mahelona – Tennessee Titans (Pick 169)
  • Round 7: Kevin Simon – Washington Football Team (Pick 250) 

One of the great underachieving seasons for Tennessee football was 2005, when they wasted a historic year on defense because of awful offense. That historic year was clear when five players from the unit were selected in the 2022 NFL Draft. Four started at least one game, and three actually had solid careers.

Parys Haralson leads this class. He spent eight years in the pros, most notably six with San Francisco as an edge rusher, where he reached a Super Bowl in 2012, and then his final two with New Orleans. He had 28 career sacks, 49 tackles for a loss and 275 total tackles, 190 of which were solo.

Omar Gaither also lasted eight years in the pros as a linebacker, most notably with Philly his first five and then with the Carolina Panthers, Oakland and the Atlanta Falcons. He appeared in 92 games with 45 career starts, registering 24 tackles for a loss and 344 career tackles, 264 of which were solo.

Jason Allen was the highest pick in the draft and spent seven years in the NFL, most notably four and a half with the Miami Dolphins as a safety along with one and a half with the Houston Texans and one with Cincinnati. He appeared in 98 games with 23 starts, registering 15 career interceptions and 34 pass deflections.

Kevin Simon had too many injury issues for his career in college. Jesee Mahelona was too undersized but did appear in 11 games with one start at defensive tackle over two years with the Tennessee Titans. This Tennessee football draft class is also tragic because Mahelona and Haralson have both since passed away.

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