Mount Rushmore of NFL Players from Tennessee (courtesy of NFL.com)

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Volosaurus rex

Doctorate in Volology
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#1
Over the next two weeks, CFB 24/7 will unveil its selections for the Mount Rushmores (i.e. top 4 all-time NFL players) from 10 historically elite college football programs. These universities were chosen based on the total number of NFL players produced by the school according to Pro-Football-Reference.com. The series kicks off with our beloved Tennessee Volunteers, whose Mount Rushmore is etched with the countenances of the following players:

Peyton Manning
Reggie White
Jason Witten
Doug Atkins

Three of these Big Orange greats should meet with unanimous approval, with only Witten’s position potentially open for debate. Nevertheless, their rationale for inclusion is as follows:

Manning: One of two Vols to go No. 1 overall in the NFL draft (the other was George Cafego), Manning “concluded his record-setting NFL career by winning Super Bowl 50, becoming the first starting quarterback to win Super Bowls with two different teams. [A] 14-time Pro Bowl pick and five-time league MVP, [Manning] owns most major passing records, including most career passing yards (71,940) and touchdowns (539). He also owns the NFL record for most touchdown passes in a single season (55 in 2013).”

White: The "Minister of Defense" retired as “the NFL's all-time sacks leader (198, since broken by Bruce Smith's 200). White was a two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and a 13-time Pro Bowl selection.”

Witten: A 10-time Pro Bowl pick, Witten ranks “second all-time (behind Tony Gonzalez) in career receptions and yards for a tight end.”

Atkins: An eight-time Pro Bowl selection, Atkins was a “devastating pass rusher and the frontman of the Chicago Bears' 1960s version of the "Monsters of the Midway," which helped the team win the league championship in 1963.”

Tennessee's Mount Rushmore: Top all-time NFL players from UT - NFL.com


Let the debate begin . . . anew.
 
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#2
#2
Thanks for posting. I read somewhere recently that one veteran Cowboy player's advice to a 2016 rookie signee (was it Elliott?) was, "just be like Jason Witten."

He definitely deserves Mt. Rushmore status, but for more than simply his stats (which are stellar). He's made the game and the NFL better by being part of it.
 
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#3
#3
I don't think there's any debate about these 4, but if there was room for an alternate I could make a case for Stanley Morgan.
 
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#4
#4
I'd think Eric Berry would certainly be in contention. Provided he hasn't been in the league that long.
 
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#5
#5
Flame away, but I would put Jamal Lewis ahead of Witten. 10,000+ career rushing yards (more than Earl Campbell, Eddie George, & Marshawn Lynch), one 2,000+ yard season, one 295-yard game, and 1 Super Bowl ring earned with only Trent Dilfer keeping defenses honest.

Witten is great too, but unlike Lewis he's never really been the best in the league at his position at any time in his career (Gonzales, Gates, Graham, Gronkowski, etc.), and he has just a 2-5 playoff record through 13 seasons. Close call, but Lewis edges out Witten in my opinion.
 
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#6
#6
I like those 4. I like that they represent not only football excellence, but also excellence of character. Well, Doug maybe more so TONS of character...he was one scary dude on the field, and larger than life off it. :)

Using those same paired criteria, Eric Berry certainly could take an equal spot with all of them. He is the compelling argument that our "Mount Volunteer" needs five faces, not four. You can't remove any of the four, but you can't leave Eric off, either.
 
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#7
#7
I'd create a spot for Al Wilson on Mt Rushmore just because I wouldn't want to be the one to tell him he doesn't have a spot.
 
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#8
#8
AboveAllNations said:
Flame away, but I would put Jamal Lewis ahead of Witten. 10,000+ career rushing yards (more than Earl Campbell, Eddie George, & Marshawn Lynch), one 2,000+ yard season, one 295-yard game, and 1 Super Bowl ring earned with only Trent Dilfer keeping defenses honest.

Witten is great too, but unlike Lewis he's never really been the best in the league at his position at any time in his career (Gonzales, Gates, Graham, Gronkowski, etc.), and he has just a 2-5 playoff record through 13 seasons. Close call, but Lewis edges out Witten in my opinion.
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Not a flame but Lewis made 1 Pro Bowl, Witten has been 10 times.

In addition to being a lock for the HOF, Witten is #10 on the all time receptions leaders, and #2 all time
TE in receptions. Jamal was great too but Canton is not in his future, and Witten is not responsible for
Jerry Jones' mismanagement.
 
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#11
#11
VFL-82-JP said:
I like those 4. I like that they represent not only football excellence, but also excellence of character. Well, Doug maybe for TONS of character moreso than excellence of character...he was one scary dude on the field. :)

Using those same paired criteria, Eric Berry certainly could take an equal spot with all of them. He is the compelling argument that our "Mount Volunteer" needs five faces, not four. You can't remove any of the four, but you can't leave Eric off, either.
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Eric certainly is earning serious consideration for this honor, but it is still too early in his career to bestow that distinction upon him. He is a two-time First-Team All-Pro selection (2013 and 2015) and four-time Pro Bowl selection (2010, 2012, 2013 and 2015), but those are the only four seasons in which he has been healthy enough to play all year (see Eric Berry NFL Football Statistics | Pro-Football-Reference.com). With sustained, continuous success, Eric will get there.

Incidentally, for our purposes, we could always expand the lithic "canvas" upon which we are paying tribute to former Vol greats in the NFL. To that end, we could establish a "Mount Everest," upon which, say, eleven Tennessee players can be honored.
 
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#14
#14
AboveAllNations said:
Flame away, but I would put Jamal Lewis ahead of Witten. 10,000+ career rushing yards (more than Earl Campbell, Eddie George, & Marshawn Lynch), one 2,000+ yard season, one 295-yard game, and 1 Super Bowl ring earned with only Trent Dilfer keeping defenses honest.

Witten is great too, but unlike Lewis he's never really been the best in the league at his position at any time in his career (Gonzales, Gates, Graham, Gronkowski, etc.), and he has just a 2-5 playoff record through 13 seasons. Close call, but Lewis edges out Witten in my opinion.
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I'm not sure what you mean by this but Jason Witten is a two time First Team All Pro (2007 and 2010). That would indicate that he was in fact, the best TE in the league those years (in the opinion of people that matter). He is also a much better blocker than any of the other TE's you referenced - especially Gronk, who really is just a big receiver.
 
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#15
#15
BowlBrother85 said:
I'm not sure what you mean by this but Jason Witten is a two time First Team All Pro (2007 and 2010). That would indicate that he was in fact, the best TE in the league those years (in the opinion of people that matter). He is also a much better blocker than any of the other TE's you referenced - especially Gronk, who really is just a big receiver.
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Errr, I dont know where you heard that.

Bill Belichick: Rob Gronkowski's blocking up there with Mark Bavaro - New England Patriots Blog- ESPN
 
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#17
Special Ed said:
The faces of Rushmore weren't etched.
They were sculpted.
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Created on an Etch & Sketch to be exact.
IMG_1403-500x375.jpg
 
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#18
BowlBrother85 said:
That's what I would expect his coach to say... but Gronk usually lines up flexed out wide and is rarely if ever even given a blocking assignment. Belichick knows better than that.
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LOL Oh he does now does he? You watch a lot of Patriot games? And yeah, Belichick is famous for
heaping praise on his players. It only took him 15 years to get around to telling the press what he thinks
about Brady. :good!:
 
#20
#20
BowlBrother85 said:
Yes.
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I seriously doubt that if you think "all Gronk is is a big receiver who doesnt block and is always flexed
out wide." This is why the NFL should be banned on this board.

The fact is that Gronk is a devastating inline blocker and everybody but you seems to know about that. Here's what NFL.com has to say.

Gronkowski is the most quintessential throwback tight end. He not only gives you outstanding production in the passing game, but he is a rugged blocker adept at moving defenders off the ball. Gronkowski's combination of size, strength and tenacity overwhelms linebackers at the point of attack, and allows the Patriots to routinely direct their running game to his side. With Gronkowski also showing a willingness to finish in a physical and aggressive manner, it is hard to find another tight end that rivals his effectiveness in the run game.
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NFL's best tight end: Rob Gronkowski or Jimmy Graham? - NFL.com

From PFF. Case closed.

https://www.profootballfocus.com/the-only-nfl-player-more-dominant-than-gronk-is-j-j-watt/
 
#21
#21
HoptownVol said:
I seriously doubt that if you think "all Gronk is is a big receiver who doesnt block and is always flexed
out wide." This is why the NFL should be banned on this board.

The fact is that Gronk is a devastating inline blocker and everybody but you seems to know about that. Here's what NFL.com has to say.



NFL's best tight end: Rob Gronkowski or Jimmy Graham? - NFL.com

From PFF. Case closed.

https://www.profootballfocus.com/the-only-nfl-player-more-dominant-than-gronk-is-j-j-watt/
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That's not what I've observed but it's not like I break down game film either. I will stay say that he flexes out much more than playing from the line but if I'm wrong about how well he blocks when he's given such an assignment then I'm big enough to admit it (though I still say Witten is a better blocker). Fair enough?
 
#22
#22
BowlBrother85 said:
That's not what I've observed but it's not like I break down game film either. I will stay say that he flexes out much more than playing from the line but if I'm wrong about how well he blocks when he's given such an assignment then I'm big enough to admit it (though I still say Witten is a better blocker). Fair enough?
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Not according to PFF.
 
#23
#23
I'm happy with the list. I think Berry may end up in contention if he stays in the league long enough
 
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#24
HoptownVol said:
Not according to PFF.
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How about this: watch the AFC Championship Game vs Denver from Jan. 24th again when the Pats threw the ball 56 times (Gronk had 8 catches for 144 yards) and rushed only 17 times and get back to me about how much blocking Gronk did in that game vs how many times he was flexed out wide. He may be a very good blocker - I'm just saying that he isn't asked to very much of it.
 
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