Favorite Defensive Vol?

#31
#31
I would have to say Raynoch Thompson is my favorite vol followed by EB and "Big AL" Haynesworth. Quick story about Albert Haynesworth:

Senior year of high school, I had heard of this TN commit that was supposed to be the next Reggie White. I was pumped to watch him play my freshmen year at TN. Fall of his freshman year, he hardly played. Boy was I disappointed with the hype. He and I had a class together spring of our freshman year. I got to know him just a bit. Not like hanging out on the weekends know, but at least we would speak when we say each other. So i see him out at a party and had a little liquid courage in me. I go up to him and say, "Big Al, man I hear you are the next Reggie white..." He said, "Man, they tell me three years." I said three years for what? He said, three years till i go to the pros. In my head, I thought he was crazy. He didn't play as much as I would have thought with all of the hype he had coming out of high school. So we shot the breeze a little bit longer and I filed that away. Most of you guys know, he got a lot more playing time his sophomore year and had a great junior year and was drafted in the first round by the Titans. I was absolutely blown away that if he did what they told him to do, he only had 3 years till pros. Football factory?
 
#33
#33
No particular order- EBerry, JHenderson, PHarylson, JAllen, AWilson, EWestmoreland, JHeffney,JMayo,DGrant,KSimon.
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#34
#34
There have been a lot of good defensive players to come through UT in my 40+ years. Reggie White, Lenoard Little, Big John, EB, Jason Allen, Dale Carter, Keith Delong, Jerod Mayo, Al Wilson (my favorite), Gibril Wilson, Jesse Mahelona, Raynoch Thompson, Deon Grant, Shaun Ellis, Terry Fair, Kevin Burnette, Eric Westmoreland and Bill Bates. Those are just the ones that I can remember off the top of my head.
 
#35
#35
dmckean722 said:
I would have to say Raynoch Thompson is my favorite vol followed by EB and "Big AL" Haynesworth. Quick story about Albert Haynesworth:

Senior year of high school, I had heard of this TN commit that was supposed to be the next Reggie White. I was pumped to watch him play my freshmen year at TN. Fall of his freshman year, he hardly played. Boy was I disappointed with the hype. He and I had a class together spring of our freshman year. I got to know him just a bit. Not like hanging out on the weekends know, but at least we would speak when we say each other. So i see him out at a party and had a little liquid courage in me. I go up to him and say, "Big Al, man I hear you are the next Reggie white..." He said, "Man, they tell me three years." I said three years for what? He said, three years till i go to the pros. In my head, I thought he was crazy. He didn't play as much as I would have thought with all of the hype he had coming out of high school. So we shot the breeze a little bit longer and I filed that away. Most of you guys know, he got a lot more playing time his sophomore year and had a great junior year and was drafted in the first round by the Titans. I was absolutely blown away that if he did what they told him to do, he only had 3 years till pros. Football factory?
Click to expand...

Yes. I had a similar situation with GRiggs. I went to RBank Hs, class of 04, he's 02. It is essentially a FB factory, but many BCS schools are. Its genes, homie. Haynesworths kid has a hell of a better shot @ being an all-pro DL than my son. (BTW, I sent CBP film of my 18 month old shooting FT's on his "Summit". Wood court in his room. Albeit on a 4.5' Fisher Price goal) jk, I'm waiting till he's 3 to start filming our 5:30 am workouts. Through the Fire.....
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#36
#36
O yeh, good names my man^ . I forgot about G Wilson and T Fair. TFair and DGrant was a mean tandem, iirc?.
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#37
#37
I have to go with West Tn's Al Wilson. I loved his leadership & passion for the game. He was a beast maniac on the field. Imo, Fulmer wasn't the leader in winning our NC, big Al was. He's the one that had the teamed amped up & ready to go. Teammates knew if they F'd up they had to answer to Al not Phil. Al held the team accountable. I have much respect for Fulmer, but I don't think his boring pregame speech is what had the Vols ready to play. Big Al set the tempo on D. I also think he should get his jersey retired. If they don't that's a bunch of BS. He's been great to the community, a top notch citizen, & had a great NFL career.
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#38
#38
He certainly deserves the respect of any and every Vol. He's a great example of how to strive for excellence, in all aspects. From all I know of him, he's a great person. His 'mate Westmoreland is a great individual as well.
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#46
#46
Eric Berry, Al Wilson, Reggie White..... the three greatest IMO. I just can't put one ahead of the other.
 
#49
#49
Atkins, Kiner, and Reynolds were before my time. Dale Jones deserves to be mentioned. Al Wilson is my favorite and it's not even close. Reggie White absolutely controlled a game like no other, but you said favorite.
 
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