Countdown to September 1st vs Ball State (Top 250 Vols)

#754
#754
51 days...........

# 51 - Jason Witten

When it comes to blocking at the line of scrimmage, blocking down field, route running, hands, and clutch plays, Witten is the prototype Tight End. Originally a defensive end out of East TN, Witten reluctantly switched to TE in his first season. As a freshman, he played mainly on special teams and only caught one pass. As a sophomore in 2001, he won the Most Improved award after Spring Practice cracked into the starting line-up in a few games, but was still the teams third leading receiver, catching 28 passes for 293 yards and 2 TDs. He capped the season with a 125 yard performance in the Bowl win over Michigan. In 2002, Witten caught at least one pass in every game and finished with 39 receptions for 493 yards and 5 TDs. A John Mackey Award semifinalist, Witten established Tennessee's single-season receiving yardage record for tight ends while leading the team in catches, yards and touchdowns and was named 1st Team All-SEC. He was Tennessee's representative on the SEC Good Works Team and also made the SEC Academic Honor Roll with a 3.09 GPA as a Sports Management major. Witten decided to forgo his senior season and was a 3rd round pick by the Cowboys, where he became one of the greatest TE's in NFL history. A true legend!
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#756
#756
TennesseeTarheel said:
50 days and a wake-up.
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I’m doing something fun on game day……since number 1 will be the day before. Did it on purpose :)


top 50 will be fun. No real surprises in who is there, but definitely a surprise or two in the order.
remember……it MY top 250.;)
 
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#757
#757
peaygolf said:
I’m doing something fun on game day……since number 1 will be the day before. Did it on purpose :)


top 50 will be fun. No real surprises in who is there, but definitely a surprise or two in the order.
remember……it MY top 250.;)
Click to expand...
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#758
#758
50 days...........

#50 - Charlie Garner

A JUCO star, Garner arrived in Knoxville in 1992, and immediately made his presence known. Starting ahead of James Stewart, Garner had 154 carries for 928 yards with 2 TD and 5 catches for 25 yards. He helped lead the Vols to a 9-3 record and #12 ranking. In 1993, Garner led UT to a 10-2 record and berth in the Citrus Bowl. Garner had six 100 yard games during the season and was named 2nd Team All-SEC. In only two seasons, Garner rushed for 2,091 yards and 10 TDs, good for 13th in school history. He also finished with 10 career 100 yard games. His remarkable 6.7 yard average shows his power and elusiveness. After his UT career, Garner was a 2nd round pick by the Eagles in 1994 and played in the NFL until 2004. Garner is without a doubt one of the top backs in school history. Not often mentioned as such, he started in front of an all time great and would easily be the All-Time leader in rushing yards if he had played all four years.

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#759
#759
49 days……

#49 - Tim McGee

McGee had big shoes to fill, coming from the same HS as Anthony Hancock, but filled them well. As a freshman in 1982, McGee only played in four games and didn’t catch a pass, but improved as a sophomore, hauling in 19 passes for 296 yards and 2TDs. In 1984, with Tony Robinson at QB, McGee exploded with a school record 54 receptions for 809 yards and 6 TDs. He had huge games vs UF and Vandy, and his 17 yrd TD ignited a late comeback in the win over Alabama. He was named 2nd Team All-SEC. As a senior, McGee was named captain and led the SEC in receptions and receiving yards with 50 and 947 respectively. He caught a touchdown in the upset win vs Auburn and had five 100 yard games. He was named 1st Team All-SEC and 1st Team All-American. He left UT with 123 receptions for 2,042 yards and 15 touchdowns, which were all school records at the time. He was a 1st round pick by the Bengals in 1986.

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#761
#761
48 days.............

#48 - Jamie Rotella

Rotella was part of a stellar linebacking corps that played in the '60s and early '70s. From NJ, Rotella burst onto the scene in his first varsity year , making 112 tackles, 3 sacks, and 2 interceptions in 1970. As a junior in 1971, he played in 10 games and intercepted one pass and continued being a tackling machine, registering 111 tackles and a forced fumble. His senior season was one for the record books. While earning a spot on the SEC Academic Honor Roll, he also set a then record 190 tackles for the season, still 2nd on the single season list at UT. He was honored as a 1st Team All-SEC player and 1st Team All-American. He finished his career as the all-time leader in tackles, with 413 (in only 3 seasons and 32 career games.) To this day, Rotella is remembered as a true leader and one of the most dominant defensive players in school history. UT had a record of 31-5 during his seasons at UT, one of the best stretches in school history.

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#764
#764
47 days…….

#47 - Jay Graham

Graham payed from 1993-1996 and will always be remembered for his two long TDs vs Alabama and his Citrus Bowl run vs Ohio State. His career started slow, playing behind Stewart, Garner, and Hayden, but still found the field in his first two seasons and gained 374 yards in ‘93 and ‘94. In 1995, with Peyton still getting his feet wet, Graham became the man. In what I consider the greatest season by a running back in school history, Graham had eleven 100 yard games, including nine in a row. He rushed for a then school record 1,438 yards and 12 TDs. Somehow, he was only a 2nd team All-SEC choice. He capped the season with 154 yards and An MVP award in the Citrus Bowl. As a senior in 1996, Graham wasn’t needed to carry the load as much with the emergence of Manning, but still made 2nd team All-SEC again, carrying the ball 179 times for 797 yards and 11 TDs. His 79 yard score vs Bama will live forever in the hearts of Vols fans. When his career was finished, Graham had 2,609 yards and 25 rushing touchdowns. He ranks 8th in career yards, but his remarkable season in 1995, and his epic runs in clutch games, cements him in my top 50. Graham was a 3rd round pick by the Ravens in 1997, and played in the NFL and CFL until 2003.

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#765
#765
46 days……

#46 - Roland James

One of my all time favorites, the number 14 shouldn’t be reserved only for Eric Berry. James was a shutdown cornerback and a great tackler. As a freshman, he made 131 tackles, had two forced fumbles, and recovered two fumbles. In 1977, he had 43 tackles, 2 more forced fumbles, and added a pair of interceptions. He really blossomed as a cover corner in 1978, intercepting 7 passes, returning one 90 yards for a touchdown vs Ole Miss (one of my fondest memories as a kid.) He added 46 tackles and 93 punt return yards, earning 1st Team All-SEC. As a senior, James continued his dynamic play, causing 3 fumbles, making one sack, one interception, returned a punt 87 yards for a touchdown vs Vandy, and had 68 tackles. He was named 1st Team All-SEC for the second time and was a 1st Team All-American as well. He was the defensive MVP of the Bluebonnet Bowl and was the 14th pick in the NFL draft by the Patriots. He played from 1980-1990 for New England, played in one Super Bowl, and was named to their All-Decade team.

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#767
#767
peaygolf said:
46 days……

#46 - Roland James

One of my all time favorites, the number 14 shouldn’t be reserved only for Eric Berry. James was a shutdown cornerback and a great tackler. As a freshman, he made 131 tackles, had two forced fumbles, and recovered two fumbles. In 1977, he had 43 tackles, 2 more forced fumbles, and added a pair of interceptions. He really blossomed as a cover corner in 1978, intercepting 7 passes, returning one 90 yards for a touchdown vs Ole Miss (one of my fondest memories as a kid.) He added 46 tackles and 93 punt return yards, earning 1st Team All-SEC. As a senior, James continued his dynamic play, causing 3 fumbles, making one sack, one interception, returned a punt 87 yards for a touchdown vs Vandy, and had 68 tackles. He was named 1st Team All-SEC for the second time and was a 1st Team All-American as well. He was the defensive MVP of the Bluebonnet Bowl and was the 14th pick in the NFL draft by the Patriots. He played from 1980-1990 for New England, played in one Super Bowl, and was named to their All-Decade team.

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One of my all time favorites too.
 
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#769
#769
45 days…….

#45 - Heath Shuler

Shuler played sparingly as a freshman in 1991, but left UT an icon in 1993. After backing up Andy Kelly, and throwing for only 23 yards as a freshman, Shuler emerged as a legitimate starter in 1992, leading the Vols to a 9-3 record, victories over ranked Georgia and Florida, and a Bowl victory over Boston College. He threw for 1,712 yards and 10 TDs and also rushed for 11 more touchdowns. As his junior year arrived, Shuler was poised to become one of the best quarterbacks in the country. He led UT to a 9-2-1 record and a Citrus Bowl berth. Shuler threw for 2,354 yards and 25 touchdowns, with only 8 interceptions. He was named 1st team All-SEC and was a finalist for the Davy O’Bryan and Maxwell Awards. He also was the runner up in the Heisman Trophy voting. Heath decided to forgo his senior season and was the 2nd overall pick in the NFL draft by Washington. He finished his career with 4,089 yards passing and 36 touchdowns, while rushing for 383 yards and 14 TDs.


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#771
#771
peaygolf said:
45 days…….

#45 - Heath Shuler

Shuler played sparingly as a freshman in 1991, but left UT an icon in 1993. After backing up Andy Kelly, and throwing for only 23 yards as a freshman, Shuler emerged as a legitimate starter in 1992, leading the Vols to a 9-3 record, victories over ranked Georgia and Florida, and a Bowl victory over Boston College. He threw for 1,712 yards and 10 TDs and also rushed for 11 more touchdowns. As his junior year arrived, Shuler was poised to become one of the best quarterbacks in the country. He led UT to a 9-2-1 record and a Citrus Bowl berth. Shuler threw for 2,354 yards and 25 touchdowns, with only 8 interceptions. He was named 1st team All-SEC and was a finalist for the Davy O’Bryan and Maxwell Awards. He also was the runner up in the Heisman Trophy voting. Heath decided to forgo his senior season and was the 2nd overall pick in the NFL draft by Washington. He finished his career with 4,089 yards passing and 36 touchdowns, while rushing for 383 yards and 14 TDs.


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My youngest son's middle name is, you guessed it, Heath.
 
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#772
#772
peaygolf said:
50 days...........

#50 - Charlie Garner

A JUCO star, Garner arrived in Knoxville in 1992, and immediately made his presence known. Starting ahead of James Stewart, Garner had 154 carries for 928 yards with 2 TD and 5 catches for 25 yards. He helped lead the Vols to a 9-3 record and #12 ranking. In 1993, Garner led UT to a 10-2 record and berth in the Citrus Bowl. Garner had six 100 yard games during the season and was named 2nd Team All-SEC. In only two seasons, Garner rushed for 2,091 yards and 10 TDs, good for 13th in school history. He also finished with 10 career 100 yard games. His remarkable 6.7 yard average shows his power and elusiveness. After his UT career, Garner was a 2nd round pick by the Eagles in 1994 and played in the NFL until 2004. Garner is without a doubt one of the top backs in school history. Not often mentioned as such, he started in front of an all time great and would easily be the All-Time leader in rushing yards if he had played all four years.

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One of my favorite Neyland memories was sitting next to an old old feller as Charlie Garner was just making the Defense look like fools with his jump cuts and waggle.

Feller really painted a picture for us at halftime of watching Beattie Feathers run in the way back and the game atmosphere back then.

Said Charlie was the first back he’d seen that elusive since then. Felt like I’d seen two games that day.
 
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#773
#773
peaygolf said:
45 days…….

#45 - Heath Shuler

Shuler played sparingly as a freshman in 1991, but left UT an icon in 1993. After backing up Andy Kelly, and throwing for only 23 yards as a freshman, Shuler emerged as a legitimate starter in 1992, leading the Vols to a 9-3 record, victories over ranked Georgia and Florida, and a Bowl victory over Boston College. He threw for 1,712 yards and 10 TDs and also rushed for 11 more touchdowns. As his junior year arrived, Shuler was poised to become one of the best quarterbacks in the country. He led UT to a 9-2-1 record and a Citrus Bowl berth. Shuler threw for 2,354 yards and 25 touchdowns, with only 8 interceptions. He was named 1st team All-SEC and was a finalist for the Davy O’Bryan and Maxwell Awards. He also was the runner up in the Heisman Trophy voting. Heath decided to forgo his senior season and was the 2nd overall pick in the NFL draft by Washington. He finished his career with 4,089 yards passing and 36 touchdowns, while rushing for 383 yards and 14 TDs.


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Love Heath Shuler. Awesome Vol, and a good man.

I'm no Doctor Loomis, but do have this as a memento of Heath:

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