Tennessee football: Ranking pro careers of Vols drafted by hometown teams prior to Theo Jackson
Atlanta Falcons. Jim Weatherford. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. player. 44. Defensive back. 3
Athens, Ga.; 1969 NFL Draft: Round 15, pick 366
So far, every player on this list was from the early to mid-1950s when Tennessee football was either thriving under Robert Neyland or Bowden Wyatt or struggling under Harvey Robinson. We now go to a player from another era on Rocky Top, the Doug Dickey era.
Jim Weatherford was among another string of All-Americans during this time who revitalized the Vols during this time with major changes like integration, the start of new traditions such as running through the T and Dickey’s fashionably T-formation offense. This was somewhat of a renaissance era for UT.
Anyway, Weatherford was a wingback on the 1965 freshman team but then became a defensive back and played 30 games over the next three years, helping the Vols win the 1967 SEC Championship and claim a retroactive national championship for that year. He had four interceptions during his career.
In the pros, Weatherford played just one year, like John Michels. However, he started 10 of those 14 games and had an interception, as the Atlanta Falcons went 6-8. Born in Georgia’s Clarke County, Weatherford technically isn’t from Atlanta or Fulton County. He’s from the heart of Georgia Bulldogs country. Still, that’s the Atlanta metro area, so it warrants being on this list.