One Play Players

[Teeman]

Who are some UT football players that didn't necessarily have stellar college careers, but will forever be remembered for one iconic play? Guys like Jeff Powell, who was a phenomenal athlete, but didn't have eye-popping stats. He will forever be remembered for his TD run against Miami. James Banks had tons of potential, but his one big contribution was the Hail Mary grab against Florida before half-time. Marquez North had a respectable career, but I will always associate him with the sideline catch against SC to set up the game-winning FG.

 

[Boca Vol]

Mike Whitehead had a huge stop vs. UK in ‘87.

Bill Duff vs. OSU in the Citrus Bowl.

 

[GAVol]

Cool thread idea. Don’t think I’ve ever seen this one before….

Bill Duff blowing up Eddie George on 4th down in the Citrus Bowl.

Von Reeves takes an End Around from TE and throws a bomb to Carl Pickens to break open the 90 Florida game.

Mose Phillips takes a screen pass the distance across a flooded field against Florida and poses in the end zone.

Darrin Miller intercepts a toss sweep and returns it 96 yards (87 opener?).

Aaron Hayden go ahead TD on a screen pass against Notre Dame.

Derrick Tinsley end around on 4th down against Miami.

And the winner…Billy Ratliff decides Arkansas isn’t going to ruin the 98 season.

 

[Just a VolinTears]

Chase McGrath

 

[Teeman]

Mike Whitehead had a huge stop vs. UK in ‘87.

Bill Duff vs. OSU in the Citrus Bowl.

Mike Whitehead is a great example.

 

[Frozevol]

Two more in the Miracle at South Bend.
Jeremy Lincoln blocks potentially game winning FG with his butt.
Floyd Miley found the ball from a previous block FG and returned it for a TD. How many games have we blocked TWO FGs?

 

[Savannahbayvol]

Jim Cartwright, 59 yard int for TD in the 1959 upset of undefeated, #1 ranked, defending NC LSU.

And then late in the game, "The Stop," Bill Majors, Wayne Grubb and Charley Severance stopping Billy Cannon on the 1 foot line.

 

[BigBadVol]

“And the winner…Billy Ratliff decides Arkansas isn’t going to ruin the 98 season.”

This all day!

 

[savannahfan]

Jim Cartwright, 59 yard int for TD in the 1959 upset of undefeated, #1 ranked, defending NC LSU.

And then late in the game, "The Stop," Bill Majors, Wayne Grubb and Charley Severance stopping Billy Cannon on the 1 foot line.

Listened to that game. Would love to see a replay.

 

[WillisWG]

Listened to that game. Would love to see a replay.

begin at 26:08 mark LSU scores followed by the 2 point attempt

Cartwright's return 20:56

 

[utvolpj]

David Leaverton tackling Peter Warrick

 

[K-town Vol Fan]

Devon Swafford blocked punt return for TD against the Dawgs in 16

 

[VOLINVONORE]

Jim Cartwright, 59 yard int for TD in the 1959 upset of undefeated, #1 ranked, defending NC LSU.

And then late in the game, "The Stop," Bill Majors, Wayne Grubb and Charley Severance stopping Billy Cannon on the 1 foot line.

That was one of the best games I have seen a " not so good" Tennessee teams play. I almost didn't go to that game, but decided to go just to see, in person, Billy Cannon play. I would still be kicking myself if I had not gone to the game.

 

[LegionnaireOfTheMiserable]

David Leaverton tackling Peter Warrick

Leaverton went on to be a great punter by the time he left. I think he was a Ray Guy finalist in 2000. Huge play, but not sure I’d say he qualifies for this particular topic.

Ratliff and McGrath stand out to me in terms of guys who have already been mentioned. Ratliff just couldn’t stay healthy. McGrath was not bad but I never felt great when he came up.

As for someone I haven’t seen mentioned, CJ Fayton was a solid depth receiver, but his 4th and 19 grab in Tuscaloosa far outshadows anything else he ever did here.

 

[LegionnaireOfTheMiserable]

Devon Swafford blocked punt return for TD against the Dawgs in 16

That stadium absolutely erupted. Most underrated Neyland environment imo. Had we pulled that one out, it would be mentioned up there with some of the great games in Neyland history. I didn’t hear right for like 2 weeks after that.

But I believe he had a pick 6 against Florida too that year that gave us an early lead. Very random guy to make two huge plays against 2 of our biggest rivals. Just gets forgotten a bit because we lost and finished 5-7.

 

[horde of llamas]

Around 2009 we played Air Force and their triple option had killed us all day. We couldn't stop it till they had gained at least 10 yards. We were up less than a touchdown with seconds left in the game. They had the ball on about our 4 yard line getting ready to score. When I say that we hadn't stopped them all day I mean they had like 500 yards rushing at our place. I knew we were doomed but as a true Vol fan I hung around for the finish. They faked it up the middle and optioned it to their right. This particular play had killed us all day, it's the play I would have called against us in that spot. Quarterback pitched it to back and out of nowhere Xavier Mitchell (who do you say), I say Xavier Mitchell tackled the running back before he scored, saving the day for all of Vol Nation. Don't remember him for anything else but that play will always stick out on my mind.

 

[SpookyAction]

Great thread. Thanks to all posters bringing back exciting memories.

 

[dobre_shunka]

Darrin Miller's near 100 yard TD return after intercepting a pitch in the Iowa backfield in the 1987 Kickoff Classic.

Probably also the longest play in Tennessee history in terms of the time it took because Darrin wasn't the fastest guy around.

 

[madbamahater]

Aaron Hayden was not a one hit wonder though. He was an important and significant contributor and went on the be drafted in the NFL. Shared the backfield with Little Man Stewart, who got the lion's share, but Aaron was a great ball player.

 

[Voltopia]

If Chase McGrath isn't a poster child for this question then I don't know who is.

People only know about him because of one play, but that one play will live on for generations. I suppose one could argue it was not an "iconic play," but the history sort of made it iconic regardless.

 

[Vol-e-ball]

Jeff Powell's TD run vs Miami in the 1986 Sugar Bowl

 

[PEPPERJAX]

Cool thread!
Mose Phillips scoring that TD against UF in the pouring rain.

 

[PEPPERJAX]

Cool thread idea. Don’t think I’ve ever seen this one before….

Bill Duff blowing up Eddie George on 4th down in the Citrus Bowl.

Von Reeves takes an End Around from TE and throws a bomb to Carl Pickens to break open the 90 Florida game.

Mose Phillips takes a screen pass the distance across a flooded field against Florida and poses in the end zone.

Darrin Miller intercepts a toss sweep and returns it 96 yards (87 opener?).

Aaron Hayden go ahead TD on a screen pass against Notre Dame.

Derrick Tinsley end around on 4th down against Miami.

And the winner…Billy Ratliff decides Arkansas isn’t going to ruin the 98 season.

Bill Duff went on to have a martial arts career or something similar iirc.

 

[volunator]

Iwould say Will Brooks, being a walk-on fits in this group.

 

[TennEddie]

Leonard Little destroying Freddy Kitchens as soon as he took the snap.
Dale Jones’s interception at the line of scrimmage vs Alabama.