University of Tennessee Athletics
Tennessee: Three First Rounders in Top 15 NFL Draft Selections
April 20, 2002 | Football
April 21, 2002
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| John Henderson - DT 1st Round (9th pick) Jacksonville Jaguars * NFL.com Henderson Q&A |
| Donte' Stallworth - WR 1st Round (13th pick) New Orleans Saints * NFL.com Stallworth Q&A |
| Albert Haynesworth - DT 1st Round (15th pick) Tennessee Titans * NFL.com Haynesworth Q&A |
| Fred Weary - OG 3rd Round (66th pick) Houston Texans |
| Will Overstreet- DE 3rd Round (80th pick) Atlanta Falcons |
| Travis Stephens- RB 4th Round (119th pick) Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| Andre Lott - DB 5th Round (159th pick) Washington Redskins |
| Reggie Coleman- OT 6th Round (192nd pick) Washington Redskins |
| Teddy Gaines - DB 7th Round (256th pick) San Francisco 49ers |
| Dominique Stevenson- LB 7th Round (260th pick) Buffalo Bills |
Vols in 2002 NFL Draft
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The Tennesssee Titans made the Vols' Albert Haynesworth their first-round selection with the 15th pick, making the University of Tennessee the only school to have three selections in the first 15 picks in today's NFL Draft.
This year's draft marks the third time Tennessee has had three first-round NFL draft picks in the same year. This year's class joins UT's NFL Class of 1991 and 1998 as years that three Vols have been tabbed in the opening stanza.
In the 1991 draft, offensive tackles Charles McRae and Antone Davis were picked back-to-back with the seventh and eight picks respectively by the Buccaneers and Eagles. The Dallas Cowboys chose wide receiver Alvin Harper four picks later at No. 12.
In 1998, Peyton Manning became the second player in UT history to be the NFL's No. 1 pick by the Indianapolis Colts. Defensive back Terry Fair was taken with the 20th pick in Round 1 by Detroit, while wide receiver Marcus Nash was nabbed with the final pick (30th) of the opening round by Denver.
Haynesworth joined Donte' Stallworth and John Henderson as first-round NFL draft selections from Tennessee. Stallworth was taken with the 13th pick in the opening round by the New Orleans Saints, while Henderson was the first UT player taken with the ninth pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The three former Vols are also the first three players taken from the talent-rich Southeastern Conference. Stallworth was the first wide receiver picked, while Henderson was the second defensive tackle selected following North Carolina's Ryan Sims taken by Kansas City with the sixth overall selection. Haynesworth was the fourth defensive tackle picked today.
Haynesworth, a 6-6, 310-pounder from Hartsville, S.C., led the Vols with 38.5 Big Plays last season, including a team-leading 20 quarterback hurries and 11.5 tackles for loss last season. He recorded 36 total tackles on a Tennessee defense that ranked among the NCAA and SEC leaders in total defense and rushing defense in 2001.
Stallworth ranked fifth in the SEC last season in receiving yards per game (91.2) and became the first UT receiver in four years to record three consecutive 100-yard receiving games and was the Vols' first player to catch three touchdowns in consecutive games against Memphis and Kentucky. For his career, Stallworth caught 99 passes for 1747 yards and 13 touchdowns.
A few minutes earlier today, Henderson became the Vols' first player drafted in this year's NFL Draft. The 2000 Outland Trophy winner was the draft's No. 9 pick in the first round by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Henderson, who returned to Tennessee following a stellar junior campaign when he recorded 12 quarterback sacks, becomes the Vols' highest drafted player since running back Jamal Lewis was chosen with the fifth pick in the 2000 draft.
A two-time first-team All-America selection, Henderson finished UT career ranked tied for sixth on the Vols' all-time sack list with 20. He made at least one tackle for loss in 20 of the final 22 games he played for the Vols.
