In spite of how disastrous the Derek Dooley era was in terms of recruiting, Tennessee placed seven players into the NFL draft in the last two years.

That steady stream, the Vols hope, will turn into a drip in 2015, and not a full-blown drought. UT has produced an NFL draft pick for 51 consecutive years, and cornerback Justin Coleman has a good chance to be a third-day pick at the Combine.

He’s the team’s only hope, as middle linebacker A.J. Johnson faced rape allegations in November.

RELATED: NFL.com’s seven-round mock draft loaded with SEC players

Even in a so-called “down” period in Tennessee history, the program has produced nine first-round draft picks in the last decade and saw six of its players get selected in the ’10 draft.

Eric Berry probably is the best pro, and his brother Evan Berry could emerge as a playmaker in the secondary or at least on special teams for the Vols in ’15. It’s unfortunate that he got diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2014, cutting short what could’ve been his forth Pro Bowl season in four years.

The Butch Jones era, entering its third season, should soon start producing NFL draft picks in clusters. In the meantime, to get through a rather boring draft season for UT fans, let’s take a look at the more fruitful drafts in recent years.

Tennessee has produced 34 NFL draft picks in the last decade:

2014 (3)

OT Ja’Wuan James (Miami Dolphins, first round)
G Zach Fulton (Kansas City Chiefs, sixth round)
DT Daniel McCullers (Pittsburgh Steelers, sixth round)

2013 (4)

WR Cordarrelle Patterson (Minnesota Vikings, first round)
WR Justin Hunter (Tennessee Titans, second round)
G Dallash Thomas (Miami Dolphins, third round)
TE Mychal Rivera (Oakland Raiders, sixth round)

2012 (1)

DE Malik Jackson (Denver Broncos, fifth round)

2011 (2)

TE Luke Stocker (Tampa Bay Buccaneers, fourth round)
WR Denarius Moore (Oakland Raiders, fifth round)

2010 (6)

S Eric Berry (Tennessee Vols, first round)
DT Dan Williams (Arizona Cardinals, first round)
RB Montario Hardesty (Cleveland Browns, second round)
G Jacques McClendon (Indianapolis Colts, fourth round)
OT Chris Scott (Pittsburgh Steelers, fifth round)
QB Jonathan Crompton (San Diego Chargers, fifth round)

2009 (1)

DE Robert Ayers (Denver Broncos, first round)

2008 (3)

LB Jerod Mayo (New England Patriots, first round)
TE Brad Cottam (Kansas City Chiefs, third round)
QB Erik Ainge (New York Jets, fifth round)

2007 (6)

DT Justin Harrell (Green Bay Packers, first round)
WR Robert Meacham (New Orleans Saints, first round)
G Arron Sears (Tampa Bay Buccaneers, second round)
DE Turk McBride (Kansas City Chiefs, second round)
CB Jonathan Wade (St. Louis Rams, third round)
LB Marvin Mitchell (New Orleans Saints, seventh round)

2006 (5)

S Jason Allen (Miami Dolphins, first round)
DE Parys Haralson (San Francisco 49ers, fifth round)
LB Omar Gaither (Philadelphia Eagles, fifth round)
DT Jesse Mahelona (Tennessee Titans, fifth round)
LB Kevin Simon (Washington Redskins, seventh round)

2005 (3)

LB Kevin Burnett (Dallas Cowboys, second round)
P Dustin Colquitt (Kansas City Chiefs, third round)
RB Cedric Houston (New York Jets, sixth round)