Here's a incomplete off the top of my head start. QB - Manning RB - Henry TB - Majors WR - Pickens WR - Kent TE - Witten OL - Miller OL - C. Coleman OL - Wilkerson OL - OL - DT - Henderson DT - White DE - Little DE - Atkins LB - Wilson LB - Walker LB - Delong CB - Carter CB - Priest S - Berry S - Grant K - Becksvoort P - D. Colquit
I would say DeLong over Spiva. Why would you say otherwise? Ideally, I'd put Little at D-End, but quite frankly he's too good not to be on there, but not good enough at the two there.
I'm really struggling to name come up with the O-line. For those guys, give some reasons as to why you would say they should be on there.
Just off the top of my head... I think McCrae, Antone Davis, or Eric Still should get consideration at OL. Clifton deserves serious consideration as well. At RB we need to get Chuck Webb on there as quickly as possible. I am partial to Alvin Harper and Tim McGee as other receivers to consider, though Pickens was the best of the group. Hank Lauricella should be on the list given he was the first "superstar" player for the Vols. Jackie Walker at linebacker is close to a slam dunk. I also think there is a case to be made for Condredge over Peyton, but I will let the 40 and older guys argue that one out. Good exercise, Card.
Isnt Chip Kell in the college football HOF? 3 time All SEC, 2 time AA. As for Spiva, I agree.....for some reason his name popped in my head before Delong. Bob Johnson was probably one of the best centers to every play at UT IMO.
Its great thinking about the history of UT football and the greats that have played here. Makes me feel better about what this program has done in the past and a hope that we can get back to those days again one day.
Walker had not crossed my mind. Do you leave Little off in his place? Great points on Lauricella and Webb. I just prefer Henry/Majors over them. You'd have a nice stable of RBs for sure. I almost put Davis on my list on OL, but wanted to make sure it wasn't from recent media hype. I'm 50/50 on Clifton. He's had a great pro career, but was he really that great at Tennessee? Solid - yes, but great?
Clifton was great but he was surrounded by guys that were really good too. I think that's why he is often times under rated.
I judge OLs by what people tell me that I trust and whatever "stats" (no QB sacks, for example) that can be had. I can't say I re-watch the games and grade them the way a coach would. I do know that people speak of Clifton the way they speak of some of the greats. To answer your question about Jackie Walker, everyone in the city that covered the Vols and played for those teams said Jackie was the best they ever suited up with.
Good list. I would add Haynesworth at DT, Teague, Clifton, Antoine Davis to the O-Line. Strong consideration to Bill Bates, Terry Fair, Dwayne Goodrich at the DB slots. Mose Phillips at FB.
I came up with this a LONG time ago/ Offense QB: Peyton Manning RB: Jamal Lewis, Beattie Feathers FB: Shawn Bryson, Gregory Amsler(sorry, just always liked the guy) WR: Tim McGee WR: Larry Sievers WR: Richmond Flowers WR: Peerless Price TE: Jason Witten OG: Chip Kell, Harry Galbreath OG: Cosey Coleman OT: Bruce Wilkerson OT: Antone Davis C: Bob Johnson Defense DE: Doug Atkins DE: Marion Hobby, Leonard Little DT: Reggie White DT: John Henderson LB: Jack Reynolds LB: Al Wilson LB: Steve Kiner LB: Jackie Walker CB:Tim Priest CB: Terry Fair SS: Jason Allen FS: Dale Carter,Eric Berry Special Teams K: Fuad Reveiz P: Jimmy Colquitt,Rickey Townsend KR: Willie Gault
Bruce Wilkerson is the best offensive lineman ever to play at UT and it isn't that close. There are at least 10 receivers better than Joey Kent.
Chuck Webb and Jamal Lewis are the two best tailbacks in Tennessee by such a wide margin that nobody else even deserves mention.
