Tennessee is #2 for Linebacker-U

#30
#30
velovol said:
I thought we were a little too high on this one and too low on the WR one.
Click to expand...

If I read it correctly, it's over the last 15 years. That takes it back to the late 90's so it can look misleading given the relative "recent" success at a position.
 
#32
#32
Jackie Walker, linebacker (1970, 1971). Walker "finished his career with 11 interceptions, more than anyone who wasn't a defensive back during his time. He returned those picks for 281 yards and a then-NCAA record five touchdowns. The 281 interception return yards ranked fourth at the time on Tennessee's all-time chart behind three defensive backs - all his teammates." UTSPORTS.COM - University of Tennessee Athletics - Football

Jackie Walker was an absolute stud... my favorite Vol of all time... he spoke at my peewee football banquet and I had my pic taken with him... very cool catb from what I recall... i believe he never got a fair shake in the big leagues due to his sexual orientation... watch his highlights sometime... dude was awesome...
 
#36
#36
Volosaurus rex said:
Kevin Burnett was an All-American linebacker in 2004 (UTSPORTS.COM - University of Tennessee Athletics - Football), but the last great Tennessee linebacker corps led us to a national championship. Leonard Little split time at middle linebacker and defensive end, and earned All-American honors at the latter position in 1997 (http://www.utsports.com/sports/m-footbl/fballamerica/little.htm); the legendary one, Al Wilson, earned that distinction the following year (UTSPORTS.COM - University of Tennessee Athletics - Football) and Raynoch Thompson was an All-American in 1999 (UTSPORTS.COM - University of Tennessee Athletics - Football).
Click to expand...

Thank you, this is the response I was looking for :good!:
 
#37
#37
SKO_Vol82 said:
Jackie Walker, linebacker (1970, 1971). Walker "finished his career with 11 interceptions, more than anyone who wasn't a defensive back during his time. He returned those picks for 281 yards and a then-NCAA record five touchdowns. The 281 interception return yards ranked fourth at the time on Tennessee's all-time chart behind three defensive backs - all his teammates." UTSPORTS.COM - University of Tennessee Athletics - Football

Jackie Walker was an absolute stud... my favorite Vol of all time... he spoke at my peewee football banquet and I had my pic taken with him... very cool catb from what I recall... i believe he never got a fair shake in the big leagues due to his sexual orientation... watch his highlights sometime... dude was awesome...
Click to expand...

Even for that era, Jackie was amazingly light for a linebacker, but just as quick. This source cites his playing weight at about 170 lbs. (Walker's life finds light after untimely death » Knoxville News Sentinel) while Jamie Rotella, who played linebacker at Tennessee with Jackie and succeeded him the following year as an All-American, claimed that Jackie weighed 188 (The Jackie Walker Story » Metro Pulse). In either event, Lon Herzbrun, who coached Jackie in high school and was his linebackers coach at UT as well, claimed that the 49ers wanted him to play defensive back, a position for which he was more suited in the NFL because of his size. "He never played defensive back," Herzbrun said. "He could have been a great strong safety. They can say it's because he's gay or this or that. But they didn't give him time. He would have been a great one (in the NFL), too" ( Walker's life finds light after untimely death » Knoxville News Sentinel).
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#38
#38
Boca Vol said:
If I read it correctly, it's over the last 15 years. That takes it back to the late 90's so it can look misleading given the relative "recent" success at a position.
Click to expand...

Correct. That is why I am not overly impressed with their methodology. Too narrow a slice of history. Tennessee's reputation for "Wide Receiver U" encompasses far more than the last fifteen years. Indeed, we haven't been sending that many receivers into the NFL lately, not counting this year of course.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#44
#44
Volosaurus rex said:
Kevin Burnett was an All-American linebacker in 2004 (UTSPORTS.COM - University of Tennessee Athletics - Football), but the last great Tennessee linebacker corps led us to a national championship. Leonard Little split time at middle linebacker and defensive end, and earned All-American honors at the latter position in 1997 (http://www.utsports.com/sports/m-footbl/fballamerica/little.htm); the legendary one, Al Wilson, earned that distinction the following year (UTSPORTS.COM - University of Tennessee Athletics - Football) and Raynoch Thompson was an All-American in 1999 (UTSPORTS.COM - University of Tennessee Athletics - Football).
Click to expand...

Jerod Mayo
 
#45
#45
Mayo was an excellent linebacker; it simply depends on how high you set the bar for greatness. Given the fact that we have had nearly a dozen linebackers who achieved All-American status (see UTSPORTS.COM - University of Tennessee Athletics - Football), a proud accomplishment and grounds for consideration as Linebacker U in its own right, I used that as the criteria. I know that such a stance eliminates a lot of outstanding All-SEC performers at the position but, when you have as many All-Americans as we have had there, you can afford to be selective.
 
Last edited:
#50
#50
triad280 said:
I don't need someone else's list to put Dale Jones on mine...
Click to expand...

This was based on the last 15 years.

But yeah: Jones, Kelly Ziegler, Alvin Toles, Darrin Miller, Carl Zander.... I miss those days. Great linebackers.
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top