The Official Countdown To Tennessee Football 2026 (Sat. Sept 5th Furman) (133 Days)

[NO SIR EEE]

172 Days!

According to his coach, Johnny Majors, "they don't come any finer as a college performer than Keith DeLong." DeLong proved as much his senior year, his second consecutive season of leading the Vols in tackles - he had 159 as a senior and 125 as a junior.

Despite the Vols finishing 5-6 in 1988, DeLong earned All-America status and was a finalist for the Butkus Award given annually to the nation's best collegiate linebacker.

Against Alabama, he earned SEC Player of the Week, collecting 19 tackles, four assists, a pass deflection and an interception in what was dubbed the second-best single-game performance in Tennessee history.

 

[GBO2011]

I remember meeting Coach Majors first game I went too, I know he got one at Pitt, but it was criminal he couldn't get one at Tennessee, he left a mark on many generations. May he rest in piece

 

[GBO2011]

I totally get wanting games in Neyland for the revenue, but some of us flatlanders over here in West Tennessee would love to have a periodic game in Memphis. One hour drive? Sign me up lol

Shoot, try living in SC, had to go to that game a few years ago in Satan's pit of middle school humor

 

[NO SIR EEE]

171 Days!

Steve DeLong made a name for himself through his toughness on the Vols' line. His junior year at Tennessee, he received All-SEC and All-America honors. The 1964 season, however, was DeLong's best.

He repeated as All-SEC and All-America his senior year as captain of the team and his work in the trenches led to winning the Outland Trophy as the nation's most outstanding interior lineman.

DeLong also was named SEC Lineman of the Year by the Atlanta Touchdown Club and the Nation's Outstanding Lineman by the Columbus Touchdown Club, Birmingham Touchdown Club and Look magazine. Along the way, he finished eighth on the Heisman ballot.

Following a career in the NFL, DeLong was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1993.

 

[IndianaVol]

171 Days!

Steve DeLong made a name for himself through his toughness on the Vols' line. His junior year at Tennessee, he received All-SEC and All-America honors. The 1964 season, however, was DeLong's best.

He repeated as All-SEC and All-America his senior year as captain of the team and his work in the trenches led to winning the Outland Trophy as the nation's most outstanding interior lineman.

DeLong also was named SEC Lineman of the Year by the Atlanta Touchdown Club and the Nation's Outstanding Lineman by the Columbus Touchdown Club, Birmingham Touchdown Club and Look magazine. Along the way, he finished eighth on the Heisman ballot.

Following a career in the NFL, DeLong was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1993.

Side note - wish they still did these old school style action shots for the programs and media and such.
Would be kind of cool if they made them black and white too.

 

[NO SIR EEE]

170 Days!
Jimmy Colquitt's name is written all across Tennessee's punting record books. And with that came consecutive All-America nods his sophomore and junior seasons.

Colquitt concluded his career holding marks in career average at 43.9 yards, single-game punting average at 53 yards and season average at 46.9. He surpassed his uncle and former Vols punter Craig Colquitt in each category.

Colquitt achieved the whopping average his sophomore year when he was ranked second in the nation in average. Colquitt never averaged below 42 yards per kick and topped the 2,000-yard mark in yardage his first three years at Tennessee.

 

[MemphisVol77]

170 Days!
Jimmy Colquitt's name is written all across Tennessee's punting record books. And with that came consecutive All-America nods his sophomore and junior seasons.

Colquitt concluded his career holding marks in career average at 43.9 yards, single-game punting average at 53 yards and season average at 46.9. He surpassed his uncle and former Vols punter Craig Colquitt in each category.

Colquitt achieved the whopping average his sophomore year when he was ranked second in the nation in average. Colquitt never averaged below 42 yards per kick and topped the 2,000-yard mark in yardage his first three years at Tennessee.

We're due for another Colquitt. Are there any on the way?

 

[GBO2011]

We're due for another Colquitt. Are there any on the way?

Probably not for another 10-15 years, Dustin is 43, and Britton is 40

 

[GBO2011]

Scratch that, there is another Colquitt on the way next year

 

[NO SIR EEE]

169 Days!

Ron Widby was a legendary multi-sport star at the University of Tennessee (1964–1967), earning varsity letters in four different sports (football, basketball, baseball, and golf). He was a standout punter for the football team, leading the NCAA in 1966 with a 43.8-yard average, and also excelled as a basketball forward, earning SEC Player of the Year honors in 1967.

 

[NO SIR EEE]

168 Days!

Roland James earned All-America honors his senior year at Tennessee in 1979, concluding a special career for the intelligent and tough defensive back who played with a broken nose his sophomore year and broken thumb as a junior. James spread the wealth during his career rather than exploding in one single season. His freshman year, he totaled 131 total tackles. As a junior, James had seven picks, including a 90-yard touchdown return against Mississippi that ranked third on Tennessee's longest return list at the time. His senior year cumulated with the All-America nod and his second consecutive All-SEC selection.

 

[NO SIR EEE]

167 Days!

Tim McGee earned All-America honors his senior year with the Vols by becoming Tennessee's greatest pass catcher at the time.

McGee caught 50 passes for 947 yards and seven touchdowns while leading the Vols to the 1985 SEC title. His 18.9-yard average that year stands as the peak and wasn't touched in more than 20 years.

McGee finished with 123 catches for 2,042 yards and 15 touchdowns, all Tennessee records at the time. He was the Vols' leading receiver his final two seasons on The Hill, setting a single-season record for receptions with 54 his junior year, a record that has since been broken.

 

[NO SIR EEE]

166 Days!

Bill Mayo's consistency is what kept him on the field, but his play put him in an All-America class.

Despite battling injuries during his senior season in 1984, Mayo opened holes for Johnny Jones to run 1,290 yards on the season. His name was secure on All-SEC and All-America lists.

A four-year starter for the Vols, Mayo finished his career with more starts than any Tennessee player, starting 46 of his 47 games. The only game his missed came against Washington State his sophomore year. The record has since been broken, but Mayo remains Tennessee's Mr. Consistency.

 

[NO SIR EEE]

165 Days!

John Henderson earned back-to-back All-America honors his junior and senior seasons by exploding off the defensive line. The statistics were impressive for the 6-foot-7, 290-pound giant, and so were his honors. In 2000 - the year Tennessee set a school record for fewest rushing yards allowed with 817 - he won the Outland Trophy, was a Bronko Nagurski Trophy finalist and received SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors. Henderson's 12 sacks during the 2000 campaign ranked third on Tennessee's single-season list. He also caused four fumbles and recovered three. He was an Outland finalist and a Lombardi Award semifinalist in 2001 despite a lingering ankle injury as he helped lead the Vols to the SEC Eastern Division title.

 

[Tin Man]

165 Days!

John Henderson earned back-to-back All-America honors his junior and senior seasons by exploding off the defensive line. The statistics were impressive for the 6-foot-7, 290-pound giant, and so were his honors. In 2000 - the year Tennessee set a school record for fewest rushing yards allowed with 817 - he won the Outland Trophy, was a Bronko Nagurski Trophy finalist and received SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors. Henderson's 12 sacks during the 2000 campaign ranked third on Tennessee's single-season list. He also caused four fumbles and recovered three. He was an Outland finalist and a Lombardi Award semifinalist in 2001 despite a lingering ankle injury as he helped lead the Vols to the SEC Eastern Division title.

Is that a Pats football he’s holding?

 

[NO SIR EEE]

164 Days!

The inspirational leader of the 2005 SBC Cotton Bowl championship squad, Kevin Burnett made his final season as a Vol his best. He was elected team co-captain for the second consecutive year and was named a first-team All-America and All-SEC selection. He ranked second on the team with 120 tackles and third in the SEC with 9.2 tackles per game. He tied for the team lead for the team with seven special-teams tackles during the season. He had a fast start to the 2004 season with eight tackles and a fumble recovery in the win over UNLV. He was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors after he set a new career-high with 16 tackles (10 solo) in a 30-28 win over Florida. He led the Vols with six tackles against Texas A&M in the 2005 SBC Cotton Bowl. He was a three-time SEC Academic Honor Roll selection. He received his master's degree in sport management in the Fall of 2004.

 

[NO SIR EEE]

163 Days!

Conrad Graham was a three-year starter in Tennessee's secondary during a time which the Vols boasted one of the best pass-coverage defenses in history. Three of the defensive backfield members earned All-America status, including Graham his senior year of 1972. Graham left Tennessee third on the career pass interceptions list with 15. He collected 293 return yards in his three years and scored three touchdowns off turnovers. He led the Vols his junior and senior years in interceptions. His All-America year of 1972 saw him pick off seven passes, ranking him fifth on the season pass interceptions list when his career was over. As a sophomore, Graham was part of a secondary that intercepted a school record 36 passes.

 

[GBO2011]

166 Days!

Bill Mayo's consistency is what kept him on the field, but his play put him in an All-America class.

Despite battling injuries during his senior season in 1984, Mayo opened holes for Johnny Jones to run 1,290 yards on the season. His name was secure on All-SEC and All-America lists.

A four-year starter for the Vols, Mayo finished his career with more starts than any Tennessee player, starting 46 of his 47 games. The only game his missed came against Washington State his sophomore year. The record has since been broken, but Mayo remains Tennessee's Mr. Consistency.

My dad went to the same high school as Mayo. He also went to Tennessee 10 years later

 

[NO SIR EEE]

I'm gonna go ahead and knock out the weekend

162 Days!

Cooper Mays- All-SEC performer and All-American who served as Tennessee’s starting center and continued a family legacy of Vols … The 2024 campaign was his fifth and final year with the program, including his fourth consecutive season as the starting center … A 2024 Rimington Trophy finalist and first-team All-American who was among one of the nation’s smartest and most consistent centers … Leader of an offensive line that was a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award in 2022, 2023 and 2024 ... Lined up alongside his brother, Cade, on the offensive line for two seasons, while his father, Kevin, was an All-SEC guard in the 90s … A three-time SEC Academic Honor Roll recipient, member of the team’s leadership council and a leader on and off the field … Played in 53 games with 45 starts, all at center … Saw action on 2,962 career offensive snaps, allowing only five sacks … Did not allow a sack in 26 straight appearances, a streak that dated from Nov. 5, 2022 vs. Georgia to Nov. 30, 2024 at Vanderbilt … Wore the SEC graduate patch in his final season after earning his degree in May 2024.

 

[NO SIR EEE]

161 Days!

Jalin Hyatt

The most explosive playmaker in all of college football who left his mark as the nation’s best receiver and a unanimous first-team All-American … Became the first player in program history to win the Biletnikoff Award in 2022, presented annually to the most outstanding receiver in the FBS … Declared for the 2023 NFL Draft following his 2022 junior regular season … Holds UT records for single-game touchdown receptions (5 vs. Alabama on 10/15/22), single-game points scored (30 vs. Alabama on 10/15/22) and single-season receiving touchdowns (15 in 2022) ... Played in 35 games with 14 starts in three seasons … Finished with 108 receptions for 1,769 yards and 19 touchdowns while averaging 16.4 yards per catch … His 19 receiving touchdowns tied for fourth in program history with Peerless Price ... Logged five games with over 100 yards receiving and produced five games with multiple touchdown receptions ... Of his 108 catches, 52 went for 10+ yards, 30 for 20+ yards, 21 for 30+ yards and 12 for 40+ yards … Arrived at Tennessee as one of the top prep players in South Carolina ... Selected by the New York Giants with the No. 73 overall pick in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

 

[NO SIR EEE]

160 Days!

Junior college transfer Jesse Mahelona burst onto the Tennessee football scene in a big way in 2004 being named All-America by The Sporting News. Showing an uncanny ability to disrupt opponent offenses, Mahelona had 18.5 tackles for loss to finish sixth on UT's season TFL chart. He is second on Tennessee ball-carrier loss charts with 13.5 (tackles for loss that do not include sacks). Mahelona recorded multiple sacks in six games in 2004 and had five in an impressive outing against Notre Dame Nov. 6, a performance that earned him SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors. He had 42 tackles overall and nine quarterback hurries. He was a second team All-SEC selection as named by Associated Press and the league coaches.

 

[NO SIR EEE]

159 Days!

Many consider Beattie Feathers to rank among the greatest to ever grace the field at Tennessee. And rightfully so, considering the mark he left on the Vols' program.

In 1933, Feathers sealed his place in Tennessee history, being named the Southeastern Conference Most Valuable Player. He earned All-America honors in 1933, capping his glorious backfield career on The Hill in which the Vols had two undefeated seasons and went 25-3-2 overall.

Feathers enjoyed professional greatness, becoming the first NFL player to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a single season, averaging a record 9.9 yards per carry.

Feathers was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1955.

 

[MemphisVol77]

Feathers enjoyed professional greatness, becoming the first NFL player to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a single season, averaging a record 9.9 yards per carry.

That's a really cool stat.

 

[NO SIR EEE]

158 Days!

During the days of the two-way player, Ed Molinski set the standard for linemen. The 1939 team is the one that perhaps is remembered best.

The Molinski-led defensive line set records galore for holding teams at bay, including the fewest yards allowed (1,023), lowest average per play allowed (2.2 yards) and lowest average per game allowed (103.3 yards). That team also did not allow a single point, a modern NCAA record--the last squad in college football to accomplish that feat.

Molinski was named All-America in 1939 and 1940. Tennessee teams were a combined 31-2 with Molinski in the trenches, and the Vols finished first or tied for first in the SEC each year.

Ed Molinski was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1990.

 

[NO SIR EEE]

157 Days!

Herman Hickman
1931
Guard
Johnson City

Herman Hickman made people notice him, and it paid off.

As a guard in the Vols' trenches, it was his dominating performance during the 1931 Charity Bowl where Hickman caught the eye of the national press. In the early stages against New York University, the Violets had the ball on Tennessee's 5-yard line preparing to score. But on four consecutive plays, Hickman single-handedly pushed NYU back 18 yards to the 23. The performance forced sportswriters into adjusting their All-America teams, adding Hickman's name.

Hickman is considered by many to be the most famous lineman in the history of Southern football.