NFL Draft Comes to Our City

Several Dores hope to hear their names announced at the draft in Nashville

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The opportunity to pursue a professional football career starts Thursday for more than a dozen Vanderbilt standouts when the NFL Draft begins in our hometown.

More than 200,000 fans are expected in Nashville for the three-day draft, which opens Thursday with first-round selections announced from a massive stage located downtown at the intersection of 1st Avenue South and Broadway.

This week opens represents the first chance at an NFL career for Vanderbilt’s draft-eligible contingent topped by cornerback Joejuan Williams, quarterback Kyle Shurmur, offensive linemen Justin Skule and Bruno Reagan, running back Khari Blasingame and defensive end Dare Odeyingbo.

Head coach Derek Mason, who is expected to make national television appearances on NFL Network and ESPN programming, looks forward to several Commodores getting selected at the draft that will take place just two miles from the Vanderbilt campus.

“This is going to be an incredible showcase for our city to the entire country and beyond, and I’m also really hopeful that it’s going be a weekend to remember for our players,” Mason said. “We have a number of talented Commodores that would make outstanding additions to any NFL roster. These guys have been productive on the field, have tremendous work ethic and are driven to succeed.”

The NFL Network, ESPN/ESPN2 and ABC will have daily coverage of the draft, which starts Thursday at 7 p.m., Friday at 6 p.m., and Saturday at 11 a.m.

Williams invited to participate in Day 2 of the Draft

Williams, a two-year starting cornerback who ranked among the SEC leaders in interceptions last year, has been invited to participate in the draft on Friday. That’s if he isn’t selected Thursday in the opening round.

Williams would become the second Commodore to attend the NFL Draft, joining wide receiver Jordan Matthews, who joined other elite prospects at the 2014 Draft in New York City.

Mason appearances around the draft

Mason is scheduled to make at least two national television appearances this week.

On Thursday, he will make a live appearance on ESPN’s College GameDay Show starting at 4:50 p.m. On Friday, he will appear on the NFL Network’s NFL Draft Kickoff set starting at 3:35 p.m.

Vanderbilt notes on the NFL Draft

– Nine Commodores have selected in the first round, including Wade and offensive lineman Chris Williams, who as the 14th pick by the Chicago Bears in 2008 is the most recent first-round draftee. Besides Wade and Williams, other Commodore first-round selections are QB Jay Cutler (No. 11 by Denver, 2005), OL Will Wolford (No. 20 by Buffalo, 1986), CB Leonard Coleman (No. 8 by Baltimore Colts, 1984), RB Tom Moore (No. 5 by Green Bay, 1960), RB Phil King (No. 12 by N.Y. Giants, 1958), RB Charley Horton (No. 11 by Los Angeles Rams, 1956) and RB Jack Jenkins (No. 10 by Washington, 1943).

– Quarterback Bill Wade is Vanderbilt’s only No. 1 overall pick, selected by the Los Angeles Rams in 1952. More than a decade later, Wade guided the Chicago Bears to the 1963 NFL championship.

– Since the draft was reduced to its current seven-round format in 1994, the most Vanderbilt players selected came in 2001 when four Commodores were taken: linebackers Jamie Winborn (2nd round) and LB Matt Stewart (4rd round), kicker John Markham (5th round), and defensive back Jimmy Williams (6th round).

– Last year, linebacker Oren Burks was the only Commodore drafted when he was picked by Green Bay in the third round as the 88th overall selection.

Vanderbilt Draft Picks in Last 20 Years

YearPlayerNFL TeamDraft Selection
2021Dayo Odeyingbo • DLIndianapolis2nd Round, 54th pick
2020Ke'Shawn Vaughn • RBTampa Bay3rd Round, 76th pick
2019Joejuan Williams • DBNew England2nd Round, 24th pick
Justin Skule • OLSan Francisco6th Round, 183rd pick
2018Oren Burks • LBGreen Bay3rd Round, 88th pick
2017Zach Cunningham • LBHouston2nd Round, 57th pick
Will Holden • OLArizona5th Round, 157th pick
2016Stephen Weatherly • LB/DEMinnesota7th Round, 227th pick
2014Jordan Matthews • WRPhiladelphia2nd Round, 42nd pick
Wesley Johnson • OLPittsburgh 5th Round, 173rd pick
Andre Hal • DBHouston7th Round, 216th pick
2013Zac Stacy • RBSt. Louis 5th Round, 160th pick
Ryan Seymour • OLSeattle7th Round, 220th pick
2012Casey Hayward • DBGreen Bay2nd Round, 62nd pick
Tim Fugger • DEIndianapolis7th Round, 214th pick
2010Myron Lewis • DBTampa Bay3rd Round, 67th pick
Thomas Welch • OLNew England7th Round, 208th pick
2009D.J. Moore • DBChicago4th Round, 119th pick
2008Chris Williams • OLChicago1st Round, 14th pick
Earl Bennett • WRChicago3rd Round, 70th pick
Jonathan Goff • LBN.Y. Giants5th Round, 164th pick
2006Jay Cutler • QBDenver1st Round, 11th pick
2005Jovan Haye • DLCarolina6th Round, 189th pick
Justin Geisinger • OLBuffalo6th Round, 197th pick
2003Hunter Hillenmeyer, • LBGreen Bay5th Round, 166th pick
2001Jamie Winborn • LBSan Francisco2nd Round, 47th pick
Matt Stewart • LBAtlanta4th Round, 102nd pick
John Markham • PKN.Y. Giants5th Round, 160th pick
Jimmy Williams • DBBuffalo6th Round, 196th pick
1999Fred Vinson • DBGreen Bay2nd Round, 47th pick
1998Corey Chavous • DBArizona2nd Round, 33rd pick
Jamie Duncan • DBTampa Bay3rd Round, 84th pick
Anthony Jordan • LBIndianapolis 5th Round, 135th pick
1996James Manley • DLMinnesota2nd Round, 45th pick
1992Corey Harris • WR/DBHouston3rd Round, 77th pick
1990DeMond Winston • LBNew Orleans4th Round, 98th pick
John Gromos • QBSeattle12th Round, 312th pick
1988Chris Gaines • LBSt. Louis5th Round, 120th pick
Carl Parker • WRCincinnati12th Round, 307th pick
1986Will Wolford • OLBuffalo1st Round, 20th pick
Jim Popp • TESan Francisco8th Round, 203rd pick
Steve Wade • DLIndianapolis12th Round, 309th pick
1985Chuck Scott • WR/TELos Angeles2nd Round, 50th pick
Rob Monaco • OLSt. Louis8th Round, 212th pick
Ricky Anderson • KSt. Louis11th Round, 298th pick
Karl Jordan • LBDallas12th Round, 324 pick
1984Leonard Coleman • CBBaltimore1st Round, 8th pick
Steve Bearden • DLNew Orleans3rd Round, Supplemental Draft
1983Jim Arnold • PKansas City5th Round, 119th pick
Allama Matthews • TEAtlanta12th Round, 322nd pick
1982Ken Hammond • OLDallas6th Round, 143rd pick
Van Heflin • TECleveland8th Round, 204th pick
1980Preston Brown • WRNew England6th Round, 150th pick
Frank Mordica • RBNew Orleans9th Round, 233rd pick
Mike Wright • QBCincinnati12th Round, 308th pick
1979Martin Cox • WRNew England10th Round, 270th pick
Ed Smith • LBPittsburgh12th Round, 322nd pick
1978Dennis Harrison • DLPhiladelphis4th Round, 92nd pick
1976Jay Chesley • DBSan Francisco7th Round, 194th pick
Barry Burton • TEPittsburgh7th Round, 209th pick
Steve Curnette • DBNew York Giants17th Round, 471st pick
1975Gene Moshier • OLKansas City14th Round, 346th pick
1974Mark Ilgenfritz • DLCleveland5th Round, 118th pick
Doug Nettles • DBBaltimore5th Round, 129th pick
1973Rod Freeman • TENew York Giants7th Round, 172nd pick
Ken Stone • DBWashington10th Round, 245th pick
Dave Leffers • OLOakland15th Round, 387th pick
1971Karl Weiss • OLChicago8th Round, 192nd pick
1970Bob Asher • OLDallas2nd Round, 27th pick
Pat Tommay • DLDallas6th Round, 153rd pick
1969Chip Healy • LBSt. Louis3rd Round, 71st pick
1968Gary Davis • QBCincinnati3rd Round, 56th pick
Bob Goodridge • WRMinnesota6th Round, 144th pick
1966Dick Lemay • OLWashington5th Round, 70th pick
1965Bennett Baldwin • RBWashington15th Round, 202nd pick
Gary Hart • EWashington17th Round, 230rd pick
1963Steve Shaw • BCleveland20th Round, 275 pick
1961Cody Binkley • OLNew York Giants15th Round, 207th pick
1960Tim Moore • RBGreen Bay1st Round, 5th pick
1959Jimmy Butler • BSt. Louis3rd Round, 27th pick
Tom Redmond • OLSt. Louis6th Round, 63rd pick
Ben Donnell • OLDetroit7th Round, 77th pick
Lew Akin • ESan Francisco8th Round, 90th pick
George Deiderich • OLLos Angeles23rd Round, 272nd pick
Ron Miller • EPittsburgh25th Round, 295th pick
1958Phil King • BNew York1st Round, 12th pick
Bob Taylor • EBaltimore6th Round, 69th pick
Eric Soesbe • OLSt. Louis24th Round, 279th pick
1957Joe Scales • BDetroit24th Round, 287th pick
Bob Swann • OLPittsburgh26th Round, 307th pick
1956Charley Horton • BLos Angeles1st Round, 11th pick
Tommy Harkins • EPhiladelphia12th Round, 137th pick
Joe Stephenson • EDetroit20th Round, 230th pick
Don Orr • BChicago26th Round, 311th pick
Billy Krietemeyer • BChicago29th Round, 346th pick
John Battos • ECleveland29th Round, 349th pick
1955Herman Watson • OLPhiladelphia8th Round, 94th pick
Charley Horton • BWashington15th Round, 172nd pick
Terry Fails • EPhiladelphia19th Round, 225th pick
1953Mick Lakos • BLos Angeles10th Round, 120th pick
1952Bill Wade • QBLos Angeles1st Round, 1st pick
Ted Kirkland • EWashington24th Round, 283rd pick
Bob Werckle • OL/DLDetroit24th Round, 285th pick
1951Herb Rich • BLos Angeles2nd Round, 24th pick
Bucky Curtis • ECleveland2nd Round, 26th pick
Ken Cooper • OLChicago10th Round, 115th pick
1950Herb Rich • BBaltimore6th Round, 67th pick
Carl Copp • OLNew York Giants26th Round, 332nd pick
1949Lee Nalley • BChicago10th Round, 99th pick
Ken Cooper • OLGreen Bay15th Round, 143rd pick
Carl Copp • OLPhiladelphia15th Round, 151st pick
Zealand Thigpen • BDetroit17th Round, 162nd pick
1947Charley Hoover • OLDetroit4th Round, 24th pick
Alf Satterfield • OLPhiladelphia8th Round, 61st pick
Fred Hamilton • OLPittsburgh21st Round, 189th pick
Binks Bushmaier • BPittsburgh23rd Round, 209th pick
1945Johnny North • EWashington6th Round, 51st pick
Bob Cummings • OLWashington31st Round, 320th pick
1944J.P. Moore • BChicago12th Round, 117th pick
1943Jack Jenkins • BWashington1st Round, 10th pick
1942Bob Gude • OLChicago14th Round, 130th pick
1941Ed Hiestand • EWashington20th Round, 190th pick
1940Ray Andrus • BGreen Bay16th Round, 149th pick
1938Ed Merlin • OLBrooklyn5th Round, 33rd pick
Carl Hinkle • OLPhiladelphia11th Round, 92nd pick
1937Dick Plasman • BChicago3rd Round, 28th pick