Size of players in today’s college football

[#1fulmerite]

I remember a thread about this but cannot find it. Have noticed over the past several seasons that players do not (look) as large as in past eras. We all remember how intimidating Al Wilson looked and, even as a freshman, Jamal Lewis was just a big back.

Were the players of yesteryear just laden with pads? When Spurrier came into the SEC, Fulmer and Chavis literally took DB’s and beefed them up to make them LB’s. However, leading up to today, I have been watching games of our glory years on YouTube. I remember Tyrone Hines and how good he was for us. As I watched him closely, though he was large, it seemed his size had more to do with shoulder pads as his arms weren’t as muscular as today’s players.

Are today’s players the same size with just smaller pads or, are they physically smaller?

 

[K-town Vol Fan]

Players are much faster so everyone has to be skinny to keep up with them

 

[james_govols]

Al Wilson - 6ft 240 senior year
Arion Carter - 6'1" 236.

 

[VOL 4 Life 83]

The size of the equipment may be misleading. Nowadays the pads are much smaller and lighter than they used to be.

 

[Volunteer_Kirby]

Definitely "the gear" they were using!

 

[LegionnaireOfTheMiserable]

I remember a thread about this but cannot find it. Have noticed over the past several seasons that players do not (look) as large as in past eras. We all remember how intimidating Al Wilson looked and, even as a freshman, Jamal Lewis was just a big back.

Were the players of yesteryear just laden with pads? When Spurrier came into the SEC, Fulmer and Chavis literally took DB’s and beefed them up to make them LB’s. However, leading up to today, I have been watching games of our glory years on YouTube. I remember Tyrone Hines and how good he was for us. As I watched him closely, though he was large, it seemed his size had more to do with shoulder pads as his arms weren’t as muscular as today’s players.

Are today’s players the same size with just smaller pads or, are they physically smaller?

Al Wilson was bigger than many linebackers today, and Jamal would still be a huge back today. Dude ran about 230 to 240 most of his career.

The big difference in size comes with linemen, and by the end of the 90s they were usually pretty close to the size of guys today.

 

[PC Jr.]

I think comparatively all these guy players are larger than they used to be. Def faster on the whole. Vols have so very athletic bodies. Now they need the experience.

 

[UTFanForLife]

Pads are much smaller nowadays. Some don’t even wear leg padding. Shoulder pads are not as bulky.

 

[UTFanForLife]

Posted twice

 

[DaddyChad]

Bigger, faster. Nutrition is a lot better. A lot of guys come in bigger from high school as well

 

[Mustng959]

Granddaddy played for the Vols in 1921. He played offensive and defensive line. He was listed as the biggest man on the team at 250 pounds.

Though I remember him as a big guy, I'm 6 ft and 255 pounds now ( mostly unwanted fat) and 66 years old. These guys nowadays on the line are monsters at over 300 pounds and mostly muscle!

 

[unfrozencvmanvol]

Smaller pads man.

 

[Orangecrush#27]

I remember a thread about this but cannot find it. Have noticed over the past several seasons that players do not (look) as large as in past eras. We all remember how intimidating Al Wilson looked and, even as a freshman, Jamal Lewis was just a big back.

Were the players of yesteryear just laden with pads? When Spurrier came into the SEC, Fulmer and Chavis literally took DB’s and beefed them up to make them LB’s. However, leading up to today, I have been watching games of our glory years on YouTube. I remember Tyrone Hines and how good he was for us. As I watched him closely, though he was large, it seemed his size had more to do with shoulder pads as his arms weren’t as muscular as today’s players.

Are today’s players the same size with just smaller pads or, are they physically smaller?

It’s happening in the nfl too, thats where it’s rlly shocking to me. I think it’s bc defenses no longer need those 245 lb linebackers and trade lanky dbs and linebackers to play better pass defense in space.