Top 50 Players in Tennessee Football History

#1
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Volosaurus rex

Doctorate in Volology
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#1
I just ran across an article/slide show, one entitled "Tennessee Football: Top 50 Players in School History" (see Tennessee Football: Top 50 Players in School History | Bleacher Report ), which was published last year on Bleacher Report. I know, I know, Bleacher Report is not held in high regard by forum members here.

All rankings are highly subjective and this one will undoubtedly spark fierce debate as well; I find it to be woefully underrepresented in terms of offensive linemen. Afterall, how can you not include the only three-time All-American in Tennessee history, Bob Suffridge? Incidentally, for a list of all Tennessee All-Americans in history, see UTSPORTS.COM - University of Tennessee Athletics - Football .

Nevertheless, this does provide a nice synopsis of many of the all-time greats in our program, including a representative sample from the Neyland era. Younger fans should find it to be informative from that perspective alone.
 
#5
#5
Bobby Dodd was the centerpiece of the "Hack and Mack" backfield that featured Buddy Hackman and Gene McEver, expanding the quarterback role like never before.

It was his senior year in which "The Dodger" showed his versatility in a 13-0 win against then-Southern power Vanderbilt. Dodd finished with 14 punts for a 42-yard average, had nine carries for 39 yards, was 7-of-12 passing for 159 yards and two touchdowns and intercepted two passes. On the afternoon, Dodd gained 212 all-purpose yards, collecting all but 14 of Tennessee's team total of 226. The Vols finished 9-1, and Dodd's dominance on the gridiron earned him 1930 All-America honors.

Dodd was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1959 as a player. He was head coach at Georgia Tech from 1947-66, compiling a record of 165-64-6 and was inducted into the college hall of fame as a coach in 1993.
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Nice!
 
#7
#7
This guy let NFL success dictate his list far too much. What Vols do in the NFL has nothing to do with their success here.
 
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#9
#9
Not sure how Berry is outside of the top 10. I might would have him top 5...the impact he made on this team was ridiculous. He pretty much single-handedly won us some games, and given the fact he was a safety, that's incredible.
 
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#11
#11
It is a reasonable list. There are others that could certainly be included and it seemed a bit heavy on the QB position and still did not include Dewey Warren. Hmmmm....
 
#12
#12
Volman1970 said:
Manning and White should have been 1A and 1 B
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Remember, though, that the Minister of Defense initially had difficulty reconciling his religious beliefs with aggression on the field. We saw flashes of brilliance from Reggie as an underclassman, but it wasn't until his senior season that Reggie was able to flip that internal switch and, then, he had one of the great single-season performances of any collegiate defensive lineman ever.
 
#14
#14
arian foster does not deserve to be on that list. he progressively got worse every year because he did not want to be here and fumbled away numerous games.
 
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#15
#15
zreeves said:
arian foster does not deserve to be on that list. he progressively got worse every year because he did not want to be here and fumbled away numerous games.
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and the UT teams he was on got better right? Give me a break

Volosaurus rex said:
Remember, though, that the Minister of Defense initially had difficulty reconciling his religious beliefs with aggression on the field. We saw flashes of brilliance from Reggie as an underclassman, but it wasn't until his senior season that Reggie was able to flip that internal switch and, then, he had one of the great single-season performances of any collegiate defensive lineman ever.
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in the NFL they call that a contract year
 
#16
#16
There is a load of RBs as well. Earnest Fields didn't make it? Tracy Hayworth didn't make it? Roland James and Jack Reynolds? Reggie and Raleigh didn't make it? Terry Fair didn't make it?
 
#17
#17
The list is close but ome names missing and some on there not sure of . Missing...

No Dale Jones
No Antone Davis
No Chuck Webb
No Jack "Hacksaw" Reynolds
No Jackie Walker
No Andy Spiva
 
#19
#19
OrangeByBirth said:
It is a reasonable list. There are others that could certainly be included and it seemed a bit heavy on the QB position and still did not include Dewey Warren. Hmmmm....
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Agreed. I would have picked Dewey over Bobby Scott. Warren pioneered Tennessee's entry into the modern era of passing offenses. In 1966, he was 136-229-7, for 1716 yds. and 18 touchdowns, totals that made him the nation's most efficient passer. Incidentally, Dewey threw 150 more passes in 1966 than any previous quarterback at UT had thrown in a single season (see 2012 Tennessee Football Record Book: Records ).

Furthermore, Dewey's career passing pct. was 58.6, compared to 47.4% for Bobby Scott.
 
#20
#20
No Jim Cartwright?
Two time Jacobs trophy winner
 
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#22
#22
Volzilla said:
The list is close but ome names missing and some on there not sure of . Missing...

No Dale Jones
No Antone Davis
No Chuck Webb
No Jack "Hacksaw" Reynolds
No Jackie Walker
No Andy Spiva
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Now that you mention it, was Steve Kiner on the list? I am pretty sure that Frank Emanuel was there, and he was the first of the Dickey-era All-American linebackers, followed by Naumoff, Kiner and Reynolds.

I have watched Tennessee football for 45 years and Kiner, a two-time All-American, may have been the most physically dominating linebacker, for his era, that I have seen in a Tennessee uniform. In the '69 Alabama game, Kiner had "five sacks, 11 tackles with five assists, four quarterback hurries, an interception and a forced fumble." When he came off the field in the fourth quarter, he chastised the Crimson tidy bowl boys and said: "Look at that old man (Bryant). He looks pitiful. There was a time when those crimson jerseys meant something" (see UTSPORTS.COM - University of Tennessee Athletics - Football). We led 34-0 at one point before coasting to a 41-14 victory.
 
#23
#23
The list should have included Dewey Warren (and Bobby Scott) over Clausen and Ainge. Pickens and Dale Carter should have been a lot higher and no LBs should be listed above Jackie Walker, Kiner, and Jack Reynolds.

And, if the General said Gene McEvers was the greatest player he ever saw. He probably should have been ranked a little higher.
 
#25
#25
While i agree with some of these players, some were left off this list who, in my opinion belong in place of others: Will Bartholomue, Shawn Bryson, Joey Kent, Marcus Nash, Chat Clifton, Albert Haynesworth, Leonard Little, Raynoch Thompson, Deon Grant, Nilo Silvan. Just to name a few
 
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