The 1947 NFL Draft had the most military school players drafted. How'd they turn out?

Written by Lachlan Sherriff

The 1947 draft holds the record of the most players drafted out of military schools, with six from Army and three from Navy. How did their football careers play out?

Pick Two: Glenn Davis (Army) NFL Career: 1950–51 (LA Rams) After winning three national championships and a Heisman, the Detroit Lions selected fullback Glenn Davis, but traded his rights to the Rams while Davis was serving in Korea. Davis played in the NFL in 1950 and made the Pro Bowl in his first season, but a knee injury limited his career and he never played after his second season, eventually retiring in 1953.

Pick Seven: DeWitt “Tex” Coulter (Army) NFL Career: 1947–1952 (New York Giants) Tex Coulter was a Center Tackle End who won three championships for Army, before being drafted by the Chicago Cardinals and traded to the New York Giants. He made two Pro Bowls in five seasons as an NFL player before playing for the Montreal Alouettes in the CFL from 1953 to 1956.

Pick 28: Hank Foldberg (Army) NFL Career: N/A Hank Foldberg was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the 1947 draft, but instead decided to stay at West Point. He never played in the NFL, but did play in the AAFC for the Brooklyn Dodgers and Chicago Hornets.

Pick 81: Bob Kelly (Navy) NFL Career: N/A Fullback Bob Kelly started his collegiate career at Notre Dame before transferring to Navy. He was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 1947 NFL draft but never played for the team. He instead played in the AAFC for the Los Angeles Dons and Baltimore Colts.

Pick 85: Arnold Tucker (Army) NFL Career: N/A Two sport star Arnold Tucker played both basketball and football for Army. He came fifth in the 1946 Heisman award and was drafted pick 85 by the Chicago Bears. Tucker never played pro football, instead serving for the U.S. Army from 1947 until 1974. He was elected into the NFL College Hall of Fame in 2008.

Pick 94: Robert Hoernschmmeyer (Navy) NFL Career: 1950–55 (Detroit Lions) Hoernschmmeyer played college football for Navy but left without graduating due to academic difficulties. He was drafted at pick 94 by the New York Giants, but did not make the team, instead bouncing around the AAFL until 1950, when the Detroit Lions drafted him. Hoernschmmeyer would play for five years and make two Pro Bowls before a shoulder injury forced him into retirement at thirty.

Pick 124: Hernel ‘Ug’ Fulson (Army) NFL Career: N/A Hernel Fulson was a back who played out a college career for Army and was drafted by the New York Giants at pick 124. However, he never played pro football, instead serving in the Army and passing away at age 26.

Pick 264: Jim Carrington (Navy) NFL Career: N/A (no information could be found)

Pick 269: Dick Pitzer (Army) NFL Career: N/A (no information could be found)