Best Position Players in UT history - DL

And now we move to the other side of the ball.

List em.

 

Doug Atkins
Henderson
Haynesworth
White


And can we count Leonard Little?

 

If yes, shut down the thread and let’s move on to linebackers.

If no, I’m open to hearing who the fifth would be.

 

1. Doug Atkins
2. Derek Barnett
3. Reggie White
4. John Henderson
5. Albert Haynesworth

 

Barnett

 

I feel like Little was more of a LB here, but could see including him in this list too.

 

1. Doug Atkins
2. Reggie White
3. John Henderson
4. Steve Delong
5. Derek Barnett

HM: Darwin Walker

 

Barnett was a good call.

 

Billy Ratliff should get an honorable mention just off one play

 

Should also say that even though he probably wasn’t in the same class as the guys mentioned, Jesse Mahelona was really, really good and a lot of fun to watch.

 

I'd forgotten about him and I don't think he was too far behind Henderson/Haynesworth level.

 

Doug Atkins was a force of nature. Bill Curry talking about having to block him, being told to call him sir, help him up and DO NOT EVER EVER EVER CUT HIM OR HE WILL KILL US ALL.

 

Same for Bill Duff

 

He played more D-end and only moved to LB because Chavis thought Wilson couldn't play inside in 97.

 

Shaun Ellis and Todd Kelly were good too.

 

Shaun Ellis was great. The Auburn pick six was magical

 

I just wish he had been a 4 year guy instead of a JUCO. He was a tree stump that could rush the passer

 

Dan Williams was really good here too, he absolutely controlled the interior. He didn't have a lot of stats but he was wall

 

DT, like the OL, is one of those positions that everything pivots around but you get few stats for it so it is hard for the average Joe to evaluate. Give me two DTs that can just absorb the OL and let your LBs make plays and you get the 70's Steelers.

 

Or the early 00 Ravens