Great Freshman Vols of the 70s and 80s

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volinca

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Can anyone help me? I am discussing with friends and would like to think of freshmen from the 70s or 80s that had the kind of impact that Eric Berry or Jamal Lewis had. Your help would settle a dispute.
 
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#2
#2
It was more unlikely for freshmen to contribute the way they have since the late 80s and forward. There used to be such a thing as freshman teams and once upon a time freshmen didn't play varsity. Times have changed.
 
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#3
#3
Alvin Harper, freshman all-SEC 1987

Bill Bates, 4 year starter, 55 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries and 1 interception as a freshman in 1979.

Reggie White, 51 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, and a blocked punt as a freshman in 1980.
 
#4
#4
Keith Davis...freshman led the Vols in rushing in '85

Carl Pickens...in '89 he played both ways final 5 or 6 games (seriously) and had an INT every game he played on D including the Cotton Bowl vs Arky

Chuck Webb...in '89 picked up the slack after Cobb dismissed. Rushed for 294 against Ole Miss
 
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#5
#5
ajvol01 said:
Keith Davis...freshman led the Vols in rushing in '85

Carl Pickens...in '89 he played both ways final 5 or 6 games (seriously) and had an INT every game he played on D including the Cotton Bowl vs Arky
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Yes, although Pickens and Webb were both redshirt freshmen. Majors loved to redshirt. Nebraska started the trend by having tons of 5th years seniors and beating the crap out of everybody.
 
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#6
#6
madbamahater said:
It was more unlikely for freshmen to contribute the way they have since the late 80s and forward. There used to be such a thing as freshman teams and once upon a time freshmen didn't play varsity. Times have changed.
Click to expand...

Yeah, even though freshmen have been allowed to play varsity since '72, it took a lot of years before most programs gave them much of a chance at major playing time. I would say it's only been in the last 10 years or so that freshmen playing has become common.

I'm reminded of Fulmer's reluctance to start Jamal Lewis as a true freshman. And that was '97(?). It's players like Jamal who have made it much more common for freshmen to play nowadays.
 
#7
#7
volinca said:
Can anyone help me? I am discussing with friends and would like to think of freshmen from the 70s or 80s that had the kind of impact that Eric Berry or Jamal Lewis had. Your help would settle a dispute.
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In the 70's, I would listen to the games on the radio. In the 80's, I was in Japan, South Korea & Phillipines in the military and missed games.

I only know of 1992 to present. Since then, Cosey Coleman, Casey Clausen, Jamaal Lewis, Ainge, Schafer, Bray, JuWan James, Eric Berry, Cam Sutton, North, Witten
 
#8
#8
Rudy123 said:
In the 70's, I would listen to the games on the radio. In the 80's, I was in Japan, South Korea & Phillipines in the military and missed games.

I only know of 1992 to present. Since then, Cosey Coleman, Casey Clausen, Jamaal Lewis, Ainge, Schafer, Bray, JuWan James, Eric Berry, Cam Sutton, North, Witten
Click to expand...

Witten only caught one pass his freshman year.

Schaffer had similar impact to Eric Berry and Jamaal Lewis? What games were you watching?
 
#10
#10
Rudy123 said:
In the 70's, I would listen to the games on the radio. In the 80's, I was in Japan, South Korea & Phillipines in the military and missed games.

I only know of 1992 to present. Since then, Cosey Coleman, Casey Clausen, Jamaal Lewis, Ainge, Schafer, Bray, JuWan James, Eric Berry, Cam Sutton, North, Witten
Click to expand...


I can't believe nobody mentioned Payton.
 
#13
#13
Freshmen were not eligible to play NCAA varsity football in 1970 and 1971. Freshman eligibility was first allowed in 1972.
 
#15
#15
I am amazed that nobody mentioned Reggie Cobb. In 1987, Reggie rushed 237 times for 1197 yds. (5.1 ave.) and caught another 13 passes for 198 yards (15.2 ave.) and 3 more touchdowns. See 1987 Tennessee Volunteers Stats | College Football at Sports-Reference.com. In barely half a season as starter, Chuck Webb compiled 1236 yds. and 12 touchdowns rushing in 1989. If you throw in his monster Cotton Bowl performance against Arkansas, which they did not count in those days, Chuck would be the current single-season rushing leader at Tennessee, with just under 1500 yards. See 1989 Tennessee Volunteers Stats | College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Realistically, Pickens was more of a force on defense that year than on offense; he had only 7 receptions for 81 yards and 2 touchdowns.
 
#17
#17
Roland James had 131 total tackles his freshman year. I'll take a newby doing that this year.
 
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