He enrolled at the University of Tennessee and played at the halfback position under head football coach Bob Neyland from 1932 to 1934.

"[1] During Vaughan's three years playing for the Volunteers, the team compiled an overall record of 24–5–1 and outscored opponents by a combined score of 589 to 141.

[2] In December 1934, Vaughan was voted as the most valuable player on the 1934 Tennessee Volunteers football team.

[3] In his first year of professional football, Vaughan played for the 1935 Detroit Lions team that won the 1935 NFL Championship Game.

[5][6] Playing for the Chicago Cardinals as a single-wing tailback in 1936, Vaughan rushed for only 79 yards on 67 carries, but he became one of the leading passers in the NFL.