University of Tennessee Athletics
Four Vols Chosen in First Day of 2003 NFL Draft
April 26, 2003 | Football
April 26, 2003
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| Kelley Washington |
| Eddie Moore - LB 2nd Round (49th pick) Miami Dolphins | Q&A |
| Kelley Washington - WR 3rd Round (65th pick) Cincinnati Bengals | Q&A |
| Jason Witten - TE 3rd Round (69th pick) Dallas Cowboys |
| Julian Battle - DB 3rd Round (92nd pick) Kansas City Chiefs |
UT's NFL DRAFT HISTORY | UT FIRST ROUND CHOICES
As the today's NFL Draft heads into the conclusion of the third round, Tennessee linebacker Eddie Moore, wide receiver Kelley Washington, tight end Jason Witten and Julian Battle's immediate futures have been decided.
Moore was the first Vol taken when the Miami Dolphins tabbed him in the second round (49th pick). Three Vols were taken in the third round. Washington was taken by the Cincinnati Bengals (65th pick), Witten was picked by the Dallas Cowboys (69th pick) and Battle by the Kansas City Chiefs (92nd).
Moore, a two-year starter for the Vols at outside linebacker, earned second-team All-Southeastern Conference honors last season, recording a career-high 101 tackles (62 solo), including three quarterback sacks for -18 yards and eight tackles for loss (-35).
Moore's 101 stops was second on the Vols' defense that ranked No. 5 nationally in total defense (284.8 yards/game) last season.
Moore joins former Vol linebacker Scott Galyon (1992-95) and former UT linebacker and defensive coordinator Jim Bates, who is the Dolphins' defensive coordinator. He is the Dolphins' first draft pick from Tennessee since Shane Burton in the 5th round of the 1996 draft.
A native of Stephens City, Va., Washington came to Tennessee as a walk-on after playing four seasons of minor league baseball in the Florida Marlins organization. He played in just 17 career games for UT, but made an immediate and dramatic impact.
As a freshman, Washington led the Vols with 64 catches for 1010 yards to earn consensus Freshman All-America honors. He set a UT single-game receiving mark with 256 yards on 11 receptions in the Vols' win over LSU.
Washington, who played just four games last season due to injuries, caught 23 passes for 443 yards (19.3 avg.), highlighted by a 197-yard effort on seven eceptions against Rutgers.
Washington follows in the footsteps of former standout UT receivers Tim McGee and Carl Pickens who had outstanding NFL careers in Cincinnati.
Witten, who bypassed his senior season at UT, set a school record for tight end receptions (39) and reception yards (493) last season. His five touchdown receptions paced UT in 2002 and he was the only player to record a reception in all 13 games
The Elizabethton native earned consensus first-team All-SEC and Academic All-SEC honors after coming to Knoxville as a defensive end prospect.
Battle was a two-year starter for the Vols in the secondary after coming to Knoxville as a junior college transfer from Los Angeles Valley College.
As a junior, Battle played strong safety and recorded 60 tackles, nine passes broken up and two interceptions. Last season, the Florida native racked up 72 tackles to rank third on the team with one interception and one fumble recovery.
Entering today's draft, Tennessee's 60 players chosen since 1994 were the most from any school in college football. Last year, UT had a school-record 10 players chosen in the draft, including three first-round picks in John Henderson*, Donte Stallworth and Albert Haynesworth.
