The 25 best players in Tennessee football history

Within the three years Dodd began underneath middle in Knoxville, the Volunteers went 27-1-2. Whether or not passing or operating the soccer, Dodd must be thought of one of the crucial versatile and clutch performers in Tennessee soccer historical past. Dodd, who twice was named an All-Southern performer, went on to take pleasure in a extremely profitable faculty teaching profession at Georgia Tech from 1945-66, going 165-64-8. Dodd, who additionally performed basketball, baseball and was a member of the observe and discipline crew at Tennessee, was inducted into the School Soccer Corridor of Fame, first as a participant in 1959, then as a coach in 1993.

Tennessee’s first All-American soccer participant, McEver was elected into the School Soccer Corridor of Fame in 1954. Enjoying underneath legendary Tennessee coach Robert Neyland, McEver scored an NCAA-leading 130 factors through the 1929 season, when his crew went a formidable 9-0-1. He was additionally an All-Southern choice every of his three seasons starring for the Volunteers. McEver, who missed the 1930 season as a result of a knee harm, totaled 44 touchdowns — which, reasonably remarkably, remains to be an total faculty report.

Feathers starred on each the soccer and basketball groups at Tennessee. On the gridiron, Feathers earned All-American honors and was SEC MVP in 1933. In 30 profession video games with the Volunteers, Feathers scored 32 touchdowns. In the meantime, his 1,888 profession dashing yards have been a college report that lasted 37 years. Throughout his collegiate profession at Tennessee, Feathers posted seven landing runs of at the very least 54 yards, together with 5 of 60 or higher. Feathers was inducted into the School Soccer Corridor of Fame in 1995.

Within the Nineteen Twenties, ’30s and ’40s, the halfback was the star of the present. Cafego was among the finest to ever play the place on the College of Tennessee. A two-time All-American choice, Cafego recorded 2,139 yards in complete offense and averaged 6.1 yards per carry throughout his three-season presence for the Volunteers. Along with his potential to run and go the soccer, Cafego returned kicks and dealt with punting duties. Years later, the School Soccer Corridor of Famer returned to Tennessee as an assistant coach from 1955-84.

Coming into the 2023 season, Suffridge is the one Tennessee participant to be named a three-time All-American choice. His groups throughout a three-run with the Vols went 31-2. Along with these All-American honors, Suffridge gained the 1940 Knute Rockne Memorial Trophy, honoring the nation’s most-outstanding lineman. Whereas possessing loads of power, Suffridge’s footwork, quickness off the snap and total pace made him a tricky buyer for opposing defenders to deal with. Suffridge was inducted into the School Soccer Corridor of Fame in 1961.

Atkins really went to Tennessee to play basketball, however coach Robert Neyland took one look the highly effective, towering 6-foot-8 Atkins and recruited him to the soccer crew. It proved to be a life-defining second for Atkins, who’s a member of each the School and Professional Soccer Halls of Fame. Along with being named a two-time All-American, Atkins was an integral a part of Tennessee’s back-to-back nationwide championship squads from 1950 and ’51. Whereas a fierce ball stopper, Atkins was fairly agile as effectively, selecting off three passes throughout his faculty profession.

There are a handful of names synonymous with Tennessee Volunteers soccer, and Majors is actually considered one of them. For this legendary three-year varsity profession at Tennessee, Majors totaled 622 dashing yards and threw for 1,135, whereas scoring 16 touchdowns. In 1956, Majors completed second within the Heisman Trophy voting after finishing 61 % of his passes whereas throwing for 552 yards and operating for 549 with seven touchdowns — all whereas main the Vols to a 10-1 mark and No. 2 nationwide rating. A School Soccer Corridor of Famer, Majors returned to Tennessee as head coach, going 116-62-6 and profitable three SEC titles from 1977-92.

A power on the inside line of defense for the Volunteers within the early-to-mid Sixties, DeLong was honored as Southern Convention Defensive Lineman of the Yr in every of his three seasons at Tennessee, and was a two-time All-American choice. In 1964, DeLong turned the primary Volunteers participant to win the Outland Trophy, honoring the nation’s most excellent inside lineman. A crew captain, DeLong was inducted into the School Soccer Corridor of Fame in 1993. 

Certainly one of three Johnson siblings to play middle at Tennessee. The Volunteers captain, Johnson was the anchor of a gifted offensive line, and thought of as reliable as they got here whether or not blocking for the run or in go safety. A unanimous All-America and Nationwide Soccer Basis Scholar Athlete, the well-respected Johnson was the highest choose of the Cincinnati Bengals in 1968. He was inducted into the School Soccer Corridor of Fame in 1989. 

A two-time All-American and All-SEC choice, Kiner was identified for his super pace, which was a key to trace down ball carriers — which appeared fairly simple. Kiner was a tackling machine, with a real nostril for the ball. Nevertheless, he additionally recorded 9 interceptions throughout his Tennessee profession. In the course of the 1969 season, which earned Kiner SEC Defensive Participant of the Yr honors, the School Soccer Corridor of Famer posted 14 tackles (11 solo), 5 tackles for loss, an interception and a compelled fumble towards Alabama.

Kell starred at each guard and middle whereas at Tennessee. A strong and very sturdy blocker, Kell — who additionally gained an SEC championship within the shot put — was a two-time, first crew All-America choice, and named an All-SEC choose on three events whereas in Knoxville. In 1969, Kell was a key presence for the Tennessee squad that gained the SEC title. One yr later, the Volunteers went 11-1, and Kell was a finalist for the distinguished Lombardi Award. Kell was inducted into the School Soccer Corridor of Fame in 2006. 

Maybe an obscure choice, however Holloway could be an important participant on this record. In 1972, Holloway turned the primary black athlete to begin at quarterback for an SEC faculty. The Vols went 25-9-2 with Holloway underneath middle throughout his profession. He threw for 3,102 yards and 18 touchdowns, whereas tossing simply 12 interceptions in 407 makes an attempt. Holloway additionally rushed for 966 yards and 9 touchdowns. A member of the Tennessee Sports activities Corridor of Fame, Holloway adopted that stellar run with the Vols by solidifying himself as among the finest gamers within the historical past of the CFL.

In the case of modern-day, do-it-all stars, Morgan is without doubt one of the finest within the faculty sport. Morgan, who started his collegiate profession as a receiver earlier than spending a great deal of time at tailback, is Tennessee’s profession chief with 4,642 all-purpose yards. He gained 1,952 of these yards on the bottom, whereas accumulating 1,075 receiving and one other 1,615 retuning kicks and punts. In the meantime, Morgan’s 39 complete touchdowns are a modern-day program finest, with 28 approaching the bottom. Within the NFL, although, Morgan proved to be among the finest receivers of the late Nineteen Seventies and early ’80s.

When speaking about soccer icons — at any stage — White ought to shortly come to thoughts. Along with being one of many nice gamers of all time, White was an excellent higher particular person and inspiration. When it comes to his soccer success, White’s legacy was really birthed at Tennessee, the place he ranks among the many faculty’s all-time leaders for sacks in a sport (4), season (15), and profession (32). He additionally registered 201 solo tackles, 92 assists and 4 fumble recoveries at Tennessee. The All-American, who was inducted into the School Soccer Corridor of Fame in 2002, retired because the NFL’s all-time sacks chief with 198, and can also be a member of the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame.

Positive, place-kickers do not get plenty of love, however Reveiz is actually one of many greats to star within the SEC. Reveiz is Tennessee’s all-time chief with 71 made discipline targets, and his 74.7 success fee (71-of-95) ranks third amongst all Vols, however nobody among the many faculty’s prime 10 in that class have made almost as many makes an attempt. An All-SEC choice in 1982, Reveiz made 18 consecutive discipline targets throughout one stretch of his faculty profession, and was good on 80 % of his field-goal makes an attempt at 50 yards or longer.

Earlier than Shuler forayed into the world of politics as a United States congressman, he was among the finest quarterbacks inside the SEC through the early Nineteen Nineties. Shuler threw for 4,089 profession yards with 36 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, and his 4,472 complete yards rank twelfth in class historical past. In 1993, Shuler accomplished 64.6 % of his passes for two,354 yards with 25 touchdowns and eight interceptions to win SEC Offensive Participant of the Yr honors and end second within the Heisman Trophy voting — all whereas main Tennessee to a 9-2-1 report. 

Are we speaking in regards to the best participant within the historical past of Tennessee Volunteers soccer? Possible so; Manning is Tennessee’s all-time chief in passing yards (11,201), wins by a quarterback (39), 300-yard passing video games (18), passing touchdowns (89), makes an attempt (1,381) and completions (863). He gained the Davey O’Brien Award, Johnny Unitas Award and Maxwell Award. Manning was the Heisman Trophy runner-up in 1997, and went on to win two Tremendous Bowls, make 14 Professional Bowls and set NFL data for single-season passing touchdowns (55) and passing yards (5,477). Manning is a member of each the School and Professional Soccer Halls of Fame.

Wilson’s statistics do not significantly stand out, however when it got here to producing success and management, Wilson is worthy of a spot on this record. A two-time, First Workforce All-SEC choice (1997, ’98), Wilson captained the Volunteers’ 1998 nationwide championship squad and was a finalist for the Nagurski Trophy that very same season. For his faculty profession, Wilson totaled 272 tackles, and is a member of College of Tennessee Athletics and the State of Tennessee Sports activities Halls of Fame, in addition to the School Soccer Corridor of Fame.

Henry is Tennessee’s profession dashing chief with 3,078 yards, in what was primarily three full seasons of labor with the Volunteers. In the course of the 1998 season as a sophomore, Henry rushed for a team-leading 970 yards whereas serving to Tennessee win this system’s most-recent nationwide championship. Henry’s finest season, nevertheless, got here as a senior in 2000, when he rushed for 1,314 yards with 11 touchdowns to earn First-Workforce All-SEC honors. Henry’s 15 video games with at the very least 100 yards dashing are additionally a college report.

Certainly one of two Tennessee defenders to win the Outland Trophy. Henderson achieved that honor for the 2000 season, when he recorded 64 tackles, with seven assists, 9 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, 4 compelled fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and 9 quarterback pressures. He was additionally named SEC Defensive Participant of the Yr that season. A two-time, first-team All-American, Henderson is tied for seventh in class historical past with 20 1/2 sacks, additionally recorded 162 tackles, together with 19 for loss, throughout his stellar profession at Tennessee.

Witten’s Tennessee profession really started at defensive finish, however he was moved to the opposite aspect of the ball halfway by the 2000 season. One yr later, he recorded 28 receptions and two touchdowns, then broke out in 2002. In what could be his closing collegiate season, Witten set program data for a good finish in receptions (39) and receiving yards (493), and likewise caught 5 landing passes. A semifinalist for the Mackey Award in 2002, he nonetheless has a robust legacy within the faculty sport by the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Yr award, honoring a student-athlete who shows distinctive management qualities.

The son of Professional Soccer Corridor of Famer Anthony Munoz and pleasure of Cincinnati prep powerhouse Moeller Excessive Faculty, Michael Munoz loved his personal collegiate success taking part in at Tennessee. Munoz was a four-season starter (46 video games) for the Vols underneath coach Phil Fulmer. He began 12 video games as a real freshman in 2000, then missed his complete sophomore marketing campaign as a result of a knee harm. Nevertheless, Munoz persevered and returned to prominence throughout his closing three seasons. In 2004, Munoz was named a consensus first-team All-American

Berry could be the best participant ever to roam the secondary for the Volunteers. His 14 profession interceptions are tied for fifth in class historical past and the two-time, first-team All-American’s 494 profession interception-return yards stay an SEC report. Berry additionally proved to be a fierce hitter by recording 245 tackles, together with 17 1/2 for loss, and three sacks. In 2008, Berry was a finalist for the Thorpe Award, honoring the nation’s prime defensive again. He gained the award in 2009, and likewise completed his faculty profession with 31 passes defended, a school-record 35.3 yards per interception return and two compelled fumbles with 4 fumble recoveries. 

As famous, Tennessee has produced some distinctive skill-position standouts. Hyatt performed simply 29 video games, spanning three seasons, however is actually value a spot on this record. After catching 41 passes for just a little greater than 500 yards and 4 touchdowns in 2020 and ’21, Hyatt broke out in 2022. His 67 receptions for 1,267 yards (rating second in class historical past for a single season) with 15 touchdowns have been adequate for Hyatt to win Tennessee’s first Biletnikoff Award, honoring the nation’s prime huge receiver. That season, Hyatt additionally turned Tennessee’s first unanimous All-American because the aforementioned Eric Berry (2009).

One of the crucial latest standouts, Hooker spent simply two seasons at Tennessee, however he helped convey this storied program again to prominence and have become a fan favourite within the course of. After spending three seasons at Virginia Tech, Hooker discovered a house and success in Knoxville. His 6,080 passing yards in 2021 and ’22 rank eighth in class historical past, whereas his 58 landing passes are fifth-most by any Volunteer. Hooker was named SEC Offensive Participant of the Yr in 2022, when he threw for 3,135 yards, accomplished 69.6 of his passes and recorded 27 touchdowns and simply two interceptions. Nevertheless, his season ended on Nov. 19, when he suffered an ACL harm versus South Carolina.