University of Tennessee Athletics
Five Vols Selected In 2001 NFL Draft
July 24, 2001 | Football
April 23, 2001
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Five Tennessee seniors were selected in the National Football League Draft held over the weekend, adding to the Vols run of success in sending players to the professional ranks under head coach Phillip Fulmer.
The first Vol selected was tailback Travis Henry who was taken by the Buffalo Bills in the second round. Henry, Tennessee's all-time leading rusher, was the 58th pick overall in the draft and will join former Vol Shawn Bryson in the Buffalo backfield.
Outside linebacker Eric Westmoreland was also picked on the first day of the draft, going to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the third round. Westmoreland, the 73rd pick overall, finished his UT career with 253 overall tackles and 34 tackles for loss.
Jacksonville also selected Vol punter David Leaverton, making him the 142nd overall pick in the fifth round. Leaverton averaged 40.6 yards per punt in his career and was a four-time academic All-SEC selection.
This year's five draft picks gives UT 50 players drafted since 1994. That total ranks second nationally, trailing only Florida State's 56 in the same time period.
A pair of Vol receivers were selected in the sixth round of the draft. Cedrick Wilson, who finished his career second on UT's career touchdown receptions list with 24, was taken by the San Francisco 49ers with the sixth pick of the round. Later in the sixth round, David Martin was tabbed by the Green Bay Packers completing the Vols' list of 2001 draftees.
This year's five draft picks gives UT 50 players drafted since 1994. That total ranks second in the nation, trailing only Florida State who has had 56 draft picks in the same time period.
The Vols led the nation last year with nine draft picks, including two first rounders and six second-round selections.
The Southeastern Conference led the nation with 40 players taken in this year's draft which included five first round picks and eight in the second round.
Tennessee in 2001 NFL Draft
| Player,Position | Team | Round | (Overall Pick) |
| Travis Henry,RB | Buffalo Bills | 2nd | (58) |
| Eric Westmoreland,LB | Jacksonville Jaguars | 3rd | (73) |
| David Leaverton,P | Jacksonville Jaguars | 5th | (142) |
| Cedrick Wilson,WR | San Francisco 49ers | 6th | (169) |
| David Martin,WR | Green Bay Packers | 6th | (198) |
