This may have been done before but I do not remember if so. While waiting to see who the new OC is and if we get any more highly rated players at the second signing date, I thought this would be fun. Below is my list of who I think are the all-time best football players at UT who played their high school football in the state of Tennessee.
I did mine strictly off memory. I did not look at any past rosters. I would be sure I forgot some who would be obvious choices when someone else mentions them. Anyway take a look and do your list or add any players or opinions. I have only 2 players who played before I started watching UT football in 1960. Doug Adkins is one as he was still playing pro football when I started watching (Johnny Majors is the other). Really a more fair way to do it would be by the decade or in 20 year segments as the game has changed drastically since the 1930s. Someone else might attempt this. Anyway here is my attempt.
Offense:
QB - Andy Kelley or John Majors - not sure how to classify as position was different then
HB – ? - perhaps Majors would be in this position in today’s football
RB - Johnny Jones (a very close second - James Little Man Stewart)
FB - Curt Watson (no question here)
C - Bob Johnson (no question here)
OG - Harry Galbreath (no question here)
OG - Eric Still
OT - Chad Clifton (IMO no question here)
OT - Bruce Wilkerson
WR - Larry Seivers (IMO no question here)
WR - Johnny Mills (IMO no question here) - honorable mention - T.D. Woods
TE - Jason Whitten (a very close second - Austin Denny)
PK - Jeff Hall (another great - John Becksvoort)
PR – Bobby Majors
KR – Eddie Brown
Defense:
DE - Doug Adkins (no question here)
DE – (I have drawn a blank here)
DT - Reggie White (no question here but he also played DE)
DT – Richard Cooper (I have drawn a blank on this position but I do remember Richard)
MLB - Al Wilson (no question here) - honorable mention - Dale Jones
OLB - Jackie Walker (no question here)
OLB - Eric Westmoreland
DB - Tim Priest
DB - Eddie Brown (perhaps forgotten by many but had a great pro career also)
S - Bobby Majors (IMO no question here)
S – Chris White (have drawn a blank but his senior year was fantastic)
P - Ron Wiby (very close second - all the Colquitts)
I did mine strictly off memory. I did not look at any past rosters. I would be sure I forgot some who would be obvious choices when someone else mentions them. Anyway take a look and do your list or add any players or opinions. I have only 2 players who played before I started watching UT football in 1960. Doug Adkins is one as he was still playing pro football when I started watching (Johnny Majors is the other). Really a more fair way to do it would be by the decade or in 20 year segments as the game has changed drastically since the 1930s. Someone else might attempt this. Anyway here is my attempt.
Offense:
QB - Andy Kelley or John Majors - not sure how to classify as position was different then
HB – ? - perhaps Majors would be in this position in today’s football
RB - Johnny Jones (a very close second - James Little Man Stewart)
FB - Curt Watson (no question here)
C - Bob Johnson (no question here)
OG - Harry Galbreath (no question here)
OG - Eric Still
OT - Chad Clifton (IMO no question here)
OT - Bruce Wilkerson
WR - Larry Seivers (IMO no question here)
WR - Johnny Mills (IMO no question here) - honorable mention - T.D. Woods
TE - Jason Whitten (a very close second - Austin Denny)
PK - Jeff Hall (another great - John Becksvoort)
PR – Bobby Majors
KR – Eddie Brown
Defense:
DE - Doug Adkins (no question here)
DE – (I have drawn a blank here)
DT - Reggie White (no question here but he also played DE)
DT – Richard Cooper (I have drawn a blank on this position but I do remember Richard)
MLB - Al Wilson (no question here) - honorable mention - Dale Jones
OLB - Jackie Walker (no question here)
OLB - Eric Westmoreland
DB - Tim Priest
DB - Eddie Brown (perhaps forgotten by many but had a great pro career also)
S - Bobby Majors (IMO no question here)
S – Chris White (have drawn a blank but his senior year was fantastic)
P - Ron Wiby (very close second - all the Colquitts)
