In my lifetime UT has been Blessed by GREAT running backs - Who is your favorite?

#152
#152
Rickyvol77 said:
Broke the single season NFL rushing record
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Yeah, I know. Doesn't mean he was "by far" the best back at UT. Webb had two games with more rushing yards than anyone ever at UT. Garner had the best longevity of any UT back in the NFL and made All Pro twice. All I am saying is that Lewis, Webb, Garner, Cobb and Henry were the top shelf at UT
 
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#154
#154
Rickyvol77 said:
Jamal broke the single season NFL record, Chuck Webb is no Jamal
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I don't understand this POV. Webb never got his knee back and, for any meaningful discussion, had no NFL career to compare to anyone. All we have is what he did here pre-injury and that was impactful enough lots and LOTS of people are still considering Webb the most talented back they've ever seen at TN despite only 265 career carries and 30+ years ago. He was that good.
 
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#156
#156
BernardKingGOAT said:
It would be silly to claim Bishop was as good as Webb
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I didn't but their stats are comparable with the same amount of carries... now yes if Webb hadn't gotten hurt, he may have been elite all time, but like Tony Robinson we may never know.

But Jamal Lewis was clearly the more durable, stronger, and better RB...against NFL defenses too, not Pacific and Ole Miss
 
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#157
#157
hndog609 said:
I don't understand this POV. Webb never got his knee back and, for any meaningful discussion, had no NFL career to compare to anyone. All we have is what he did here pre-injury and that was impactful enough lots and LOTS of people are still considering Webb the most talented back they've ever seen at TN despite only 265 career carries and 30+ years ago. He was that good.
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People consider Webb that the same way they consider Larry Seivers or Tee Martin or Alan Cockrell to be "best alltime" when in reality it's because they remember special moments or games and not actual stats and abilities; It's VOL nostalgia, which is fine, but doesn't compete with reality.

I think Webb is likely a top 5 RB in UT history easily with ability and power and speed, however you can't just assume what he "would've done" either. I watched and cheered him on in person and know that his carries were on the way down sharing with Cobb more and more. and I also watched Jamal Lewis and it's not the same level
 
#158
#158
Rickyvol77 said:
I didn't but their stats are comparable with the same amount of carries... now yes if Webb hadn't gotten hurt, he may have been elite all time, but like Tony Robinson we may never know.

But Jamal Lewis was clearly the more durable, stronger, and better RB...against NFL defenses too, not Pacific and Ole Miss
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I agree. Garner was even more durable than Lewis in the NFL but didn't have nearly as many carries early in his career as Lewis. Lewis was basically THE Ravens' offense his first few years in the league.
 
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#160
#160
Also people point to that Ole Miss game where he broke the record but forget how bad Ole Miss rushing defense was...

gave up over 400 yards to Arkansas St, 370 to Arkansas and Bama ran nearly every play on them and almost scored 70
 
#164
#164
Rickyvol77 said:
People consider Webb that the same way they consider Larry Seivers or Tee Martin or Alan Cockrell to be "best alltime" when in reality it's because they remember special moments or games and not actual stats and abilities
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Nope, at least not with Webb. You start out with a decent premise. Martin for instance benefits greatly from being on an undefeated NC team. "He" beat FL going 7-20 64y.

That doesn't work with Webb.
 
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#165
#165
hndog609 said:
Nope, at least not with Webb. You start out with a decent premise. Martin for instance benefits greatly from being on an undefeated NC team. "He" beat FL going 7-20 64y.

That doesn't work with Webb.
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Webb has comparable stats with the same number of carries as Bishop does...he was great, but again Jamal was better
 
#167
#167
volfan2024 said:
Hubert Simpson ran all over Notre Dame one year I was at the game fan held up a white flag towards the end of the game a ND fan that is.
Jamal Lewis
I have a lot but seeing in person was funner o have seen a lot in person those two just stand out
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Yeah if Hubert could have channeled that effort every game he'd be near the top of the list.
 
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#168
#168
Rickyvol77 said:
Webb has comparable stats with the same number of carries as Bishop does...he was great, but again Jamal was better
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I've often cited the two as 1A and 1B and have never (nor will ever) question how good Lewis was but I watched both and with a gun to my head Webb is my choice and there's far too many people that agree to dismiss. Conversely I don't think many that would cite preferring Webb would have any great issue with someone repping Lewis. Anybody watching either was seeing some fantastic talent.

And to think we had to deal with both sustaining major knee injuries...just damn.
 
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#171
#171
UT Hill Man said:
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?
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I still love the “Cobb-Webb” duo. So much fun to watch them. You’ve listed some greats though, not sure I could pick a favorite.
 
#172
#172
Rickyvol77 said:
Broke the single season NFL rushing record
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I agree with most everything you post but I won't diminish anything about Chuck or Jamal. The fact Jamal was able to rehab his injury and preform at the highest level doesn't diminish in any way what Chuck was. The season Chuck had in 1989 is special in many ways. First until the Alabama game Chuck was Reggie Cobbs back up. Jamal didn't have that his freshman or sophomore year before his injury. Don't berate players by saying that clearly you're subjective opinion is valid because someone did something in the NFL. That would be like saying T Martin was a better college quarterback than Peyton Manning (which is clearly not the case) because he happened to win the national championship. People who saw both play can see so many similarities. Outside of Chuck being 5/8 5/9 they were very much the same backs. Powerful guys who could take it to the house every play.

I have said this before and I still am of the opinion if Chuck Webb doesn't blow his knee out in 1990 Tennessee probably has a very good chance to win the national championship.

Glad we had both of them and long for the time when we have another similar back to either one of them.

Go Vols
 
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