Ranking 10 Best Players from Tennessee-Georgia Rivalry
As Tennessee prepares for its journey to take on the No. 12 Bulldogs in Athens, Georgia on Saturday, there are several players in this year's contest on both teams who will undoubtedly go on to have storied careers both in college and the NFL.
The Tennessee-Georgia rivalry isn't college football's most heated, and each team falls somewhere between fourth and fifth in each other's list of "most hated rivals."
Nevertheless, there's no shortage of bad blood between these two programs, as the Volunteers have regularly pulled elite players from the Peach State and each win gives the other team a sizable recruiting advantage for the next 364 days.
Tennessee has lost four in a row to the Bulldogs, although the Vols came tantalizingly close to a victory last year in Neyland Stadium.
Part of the reason behind the series' recent lopsidedness is the overall lack of talent on Tennessee rosters. Georgia has remained relatively well-stocked in terms of loading up on blue-chip players, but Tennessee head coach Butch Jones has a lot of ground to make up in order for the rivalry to become truly competitive again on a year-to-year basis.
Georgia's star running back Todd Gurley and Tennessee's senior All-SEC linebacker A.J. Johnson will likely meet head-to-head several times during Saturday's matchup, and both could easily earn spots on an updated version of this list in a few years' time.
But until they do, here's a list of the 10-best players of the Tennessee-Georgia rivalry in recent years.
10. David Pollack, LB
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While many younger college football fans know David Pollack best as an announcer and commentator on ESPN's College GameDay, he was once a standout linebacker for the Georgia Bulldogs from 2001 to 2004.
Pollack was named an All-American in 2002, 2003 and 2004, and he also received a bevy of awards during his senior season, including the Chuck Bednarik Award, the Lombardi Award and the Lott Trophy.
9. Travis Stephens, RB
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Travis Stephens is best known for his performance against the Florida Gators in 2001 en route to Tennessee's first win in the Swamp since 1971, but he also amassed 176 yards rushing and 78 yards receiving against the Bulldogs in 2001.
Unfortunately for Tennessee, Stephens' big day was ended by a "hobnail boot" Georgia touchdown to give the Bulldogs the lead and ultimately the win just before time expired.
8. Deon Grant, DB
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One of many standout Tennessee players in recent years who hailed from the state of Georgia, Deon Grant was named an All-American for the Vols in 1999 after he notched nine interceptions for 167 return yards.
Grant's presence in the Tennessee defensive backfield was a big reason why the team's defense was dominant during the late 90s, which was also the end of the Vols' era of dominance over the Bulldogs.
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7. Champ Bailey, DB
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Grant's counterpart in Athens, Georgia was Champ Bailey.
An All-American in 1998, Bailey did it all, playing defense, offense and special teams for the Bulldogs en route to earning the Bruno Nagurski Trophy as the nation's top defensive player.
Bailey's success certainly carried over to the NFL, as he's been selected to play in the Pro Bowl 12 times since his debut in the league in 1999.
6. Al Wilson, LB
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During his tenure at Tennessee from 1995 to 1998, Al Wilson was the Peyton Manning of the Vols' defense.
A consensus All-American in 1998 and two time All-SEC selection in 1997 and 1998, Wilson was the centerpiece of John Chavis's defense that helped carry the Vols to the 1999 Fiesta Bowl and National Championship trophy.
5. Knowshon Moreno, RB
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Knowshon Moreno's 2008 season at Georgia is one of the most productive of any running back in recent SEC history. His 1,400 yards rushing and 16 touchdowns were complemented by 33 catches for 392 yards and two touchdowns.
Moreno tallied up 101 yards on the ground against Tennessee that same season to help propel the Bulldogs to a 10-3 record and a Capital One Bowl win against Michigan State.
4. David Greene, QB
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David Greene lives in infamy in Tennessee and as a legend in Georgia for his role in the famous "hobnail boot" play on Oct. 6, 2001.
After the Vols scored the go-ahead touchdown with 44 seconds left on the clock, Greene managed to drive the Bulldogs down the field at Neyland Stadium and deliver a dart to fullback Verron Hayes in the end zone.
The pass, immortalized by the radio call of the late Georgia announcer Larry Munson, ushered in a new era in Bulldogs football under then first-year head coach Mark Richt.
3. Eric Berry, DB
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A product of Creekside High School in Fairburn, Georgia, Eric Berry followed in his father's footsteps when he enrolled at the University of Tennessee in 2007, and he quickly established himself as one of the best players in school history.
Berry's 46-yard fumble return, two pass deflections and five tackles against Georgia helped Tennessee rout the Bulldogs 45-19 in 2009—the Vols' most recent win in the series.
2. Peyton Manning, QB
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While Peyton Manning's legacy at Tennessee is missing a national championship and a Heisman Trophy, he did manage to win three straight against the Bulldogs from 1995 to 1997.
Manning's success in the NFL as arguably the greatest quarterback of all time overshadows the accomplishments he achieved during his days in Knoxville, and while his total yardage records have been broken over time, he remains the biggest quarterback icon in SEC history.
1. Herschel Walker, RB
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As good as Manning was in college, it's hard to argue Herschel Walker isn't deserving of being crowned the top player in the Tennessee-Georgia rivalry.
From running over Tennessee's Bill Bates as a freshman in 1980 and helping the Bulldogs win a national championship that same year, to earning back-to-back-to-back All-American Honors and a Heisman Trophy in 1982, Walker's college career is one of the most decorated in the history of the game.
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