Best RB in UT history and most underrated RB?

[Zippy]

Best: personally, I think it was Chuck Webb. He's just the most freakishly talented RB I've ever actually seen play in person. Had he not been hurt against Pacific, who knows what he'd have accomplished...in the pros, anyway, because hurt or not he was leaving UT after that year.

That said though, it's hard to argue against Lewis, Cobb or Henry. We've had a few really, really good backs in the modern era. If I had to rank them in order, I'd probably go Webb, Lewis, Henry, Cobb...but, you know, it's not set in stone.

Most underrated? Foster. Maybe Tony T, but Thompson played behind one of the best lines we've ever had, on what was probably our most talented offensive team ever. Foster produced on some really crappy teams, Thompson, I dont think he'd have done so well in Foster's shoes. Little guy was fun to watch run, though. Tiny, tiny, tiny...maybe 5'6" in heels. But really fast, and (this is where he is significantly underrated) freakishly strong for his size. He may have weighed 180...but his bench was well over 400. Had good vision, too. Wish we had him now. Hell, I wish we had damn near any starting back from the last 25 years now. I'd even be happy with Ced Houston....relatively speaking, anyway.

 

[WesternKyVol]

Best: Lewis (slightly better than Webb)

After the fact, though, Charlie Garner is the most underrated. He does not get the love he deserves.[/QUOTE]

Sure he does. Everyone I respect as a knowledgable fan has him in their top 5. I would take him over Lewis every single day and twice on Sunday.

Top 5
WEbb
Garner
Cobb
Lewis
Simpson

He's second on your all-time list but he made it to post 71 on this thread before being mentioned. I rest my most underrated case

 

[EZE]

Best, as in most talented: Tie, Chuck Webb (will never forget being at the 1990 Cotton Bowl) and Jamal Lewis

Most Unerrated: Travis Stephens

 

[UTwild82]

best : Jamal Lewis - frosh year

underated : Travis Stephens or James Stewart.

 

[richmort]

Tony Thompson

 

[ChiefVOL]

Curious what the old timers would say about Johnny Majors...

Only Vol running back to finish second in the Heisman - would have won except for the stigma of Notre Dame

 

[Carl Pickens]

Underrated....he was a FB...but Greg Amsler was pretty darn good

 

[Carl Pickens]

What about Johnnie Jones?

 

[warhammer]

Best: Chuck Webb

Most underrated: Shawn Bryson

This

 

[fergie]

I remember on the Great Vol running backs video that they asked John Ward who he thought was best and he said Chuck Webb was a star. Hank Lauricella from the Generals era was a great back (see that run against Texas I believe). Underrated would be Charlie Garner.

 

[onevol74]

I know that Chuck Webb, Jamal Lewis, and Reggie Cobb are probably the best to ever play at UT.

But my favorite was Jonathon Jones from Muuummmmford Tennessee as John Ward would say. Too many great memories of him in critical situations. Of course the biggest was the 1983 shootout with Bama at Legion Field when practically snapped their neck with one of the best runs I have ever seen a UT back make. I still get chill bumps when I see it on YouTube.

You have to give some consideration to Condredge Holloway as one of the great runners at UT also. He was just a magician before there was a term for scat backs.

 

[Volru]

Best: Johnny Jones, Travis Henry, Chuck Webb

Most Underrated: Keith Davis, Arian Foster (underrated at the time he played here), Johnny Major (underrated now but not at the time he played)

 

[VOLINVONORE]

Best: Chuck Webb

Most underrated: Shawn Bryson

You hit the nail on the head, at least for the modern era. For all time I think Feathers was the best.

 

[C1Vol1]

Best ever Jamal Lewis. Charlie garner most underrated.

 

[orangesox]

Florida would have gone to the Sugar that year but had got in trouble and couldn't go. Tennessee went instead. IIRC

You do remember correctly. Yes, we beat the hell out of them, but that was the only SEC game they lost that year. We lost to Bama and had that tie that felt like a loss to Auburn.

 

[orangesox]

Underrated....he was a FB...but Greg Amsler was pretty darn good

How many times did that guy blow up whatever poor linebacker was waiting for him on the other side of the line of scrimmage?

 

[GumpHater]

Best- Travis Henry (best stiff arm in the game) I remember being at the Vandy game in Knoxville, freezing cold, when he broke the rushing record.
Overall Talent- Chuck Webb
Underated- Charlie Garner

 

[warhammer]

Underrated....he was a FB...but Greg Amsler was pretty darn good

Good call CP, fullbacks never get the credit they deserve.

 

[2ironVol]

He's second on your all-time list but he made it to post 71 on this thread before being mentioned. I rest my most underrated case

Whatever. I think it's more related to the fact the average age here is fairly young.

He's not underrated despite what you say

 

[SDV]

Wasn't the best but my favorite of all time was Travis Stephens. All heart!!

 

[Clintg]

Chuck Webb!!!!!
Most underrated and trashed is Arian Foster. He doesn't get his due credit.

Chuck Webb was one of the most talented backs we have ever had. I would say Jamal Lewis is the best we ever had. When we had Lewis, Henry, Stephens who could have matched those three backs? The most underrated would be James Stewart. Little Man did not get the credit he deserved. A close second would be Bryce Brown. Just kidding!! Airen Foster. Foster is showing in the pros how good of a back he is.

 

[SycloneJoe]

Best: Chuck Webb....none else even close.

Most underrated: Arian Foster. How bad would Dooley like to have a guy like him right now?

 

[Phat-Phil]

Best: Webb

Most underrated: Foster

edit: beat me to it ^^

 

[Pacer92]

Best....Chuck Webb
Underated....Randall Morris

 

[VolsDeep]

Best: Lamarcus Coker

Underrated: Onterrio Smith