Jamal Lewis was the best UT running back in history by far...size and speed...Travis Henry (1997–2000) Henry is the program’s all-time leading rusher with 3,078 career yards. And famously, was quite the ladies man.
Dylan Sampson (2022–2024) In 2024, Sampson set new single-season program records for rushing yards (1,491) and rushing touchdowns (22), surpassing a scoring record that had stood since 1929.
Jamal Lewis (1997–1999) Lewis was a key piece of the 1998 National Championship team and an all-time NFL great. Despite shared carries, he holds the school record for career rushing average at 103 yards per game.
Arian Foster (2005–2008) Foster ranks second in all-time rushing yards (2,964) and holds the school record for career scrimmage yards with 3,706.
James "Little Man" Stewart (1991–1994) Stewart ranks third in career rushing yards (2,890) and finished his career with 35 rushing touchdowns.
Not to be forgotten are Jay Graham, Charlie Garner, Travis Stephens, and Alvin Kamara among the the list of all time greats.
It's hard for me to pick because I respected them all enormously. What do y'all think?
vs...... Pacific of all teams. UT could have won with a cheerleader playing RB. Serious criticism at the time about playing him.
Same Gordon! Howard and Rolin Poles of the old days. Tony Thompson is my all time favorite. That dude could fly in the air and who could ever forget that move against Mississippi State!I'm gon say Tony Thompson should be on that list somewhere....if you talk about needing a player to step up and ball out, it was TT
William Howard might be my favorite of all time....he trucked em
Webb was awesome to watch playTravis Henry was a stud (no pun intended). I remember his mom coming onto the field (in the end zone) during the Vanderbilt game when he dove over and landed squarely on his head. Everyone thought he did serious damage - but thankfully did not.
I think Jamal Lewis will be the closest to Hershel Walker UT will ever get.
My favorite had to be Chuck Webb. His freshman year was incredible. He had Reggie Cobb subbing in/out for him which made the "Cobb-Webb" tandem and national acclaim. He set a Cotton Bowl rushing record (nearly 300 yards) and was Offensive MVP in UT's win against a top-10 Arkansas. That '89 team was loaded in nearly every position. He rushed for more than 1600 yards in 12 games with a 6+ YPC average.
I was there in the box with BHG3 and his son Brett. To just watch that playout as double digit underdogs so so sweet. To hear those bull gators swear and curse evey time Travis ran through tackles and to the open field at will...To watch Spurrier waive so odly to the crowd as he walked off the field...just amazing to be there. Then to add insult to injury....same thing 2003 and the cursing at the end of the 1st half....Clausen to Banks Hail Mary!!! Hearing BHG3 swear and curse again and then I heard him say...about the Zooker...."that boy aint gonna make it". Lol. He was right! For some reason it just felt so surreal and it was until this year when we finally laid one on them in the swamp. Regardless it made Gaffneys dropped td in 2000 seem less painful! Hope is always part of being TN Vol!! Sometimes it pays off.. 1998! Man wouldn't it be nice once again to just be in Atlanta let alone a playoff championship game. I hope we get there again and soon! I'm still relatively young but times is eroding away the opportunities. Go Vols!!Travis Stephens has been wrongly omitted from the discussion. The 225 he put up against UF in 2001 was legendary
I was there in the box with BHG3 and his son Brett. To just watch that playout as double digit underdogs so so sweet. To hear those bull gators swear and curse evey time Travis ran through tackles and to the open field at will...To watch Spurrier waive so odly to the crowd as he walked off the field...just amazing to be there. Then to add insult to injury....same thing 2003 and the cursing at the end of the 1st half....Clausen to Banks Hail Mary!!! Hearing BHG3 swear and curse again and then I heard him say...about the Zooker...."that boy aint gonna make it". Lol. He was right! For some reason it just felt so surreal and it was until this year when we finally laid one on them in the swamp. Regardless it made Gaffneys dropped td in 2000 seem less painful! Hope is always part of being TN Vol!! Sometimes it pays off.. 1998! Man wouldn't it be nice once again to just be in Atlanta let alone a playoff championship game. I hope we get there again and soon! I'm still relatively young but times is eroding away the opportunities. Go Vols!!
