Open Mic: MY Tennessee Volunteers All-Time Football Team

I was born during the Majors Era—not when Johnny Majors was a tailback for the University of Tennessee, where he was ripping apart defenses in the last remaining days of the single wing attack.

I grew up watching Coach Johnny Majors lead a Tennessee program back to prominence in the 80's and early 90's.  I've seen some dominant players run through the "T" since then. 

I'll admit though, I'm a little bitter.  There were a lot of great teams and outstanding players that, unfortunately, I did not get to see because I was born too late. 

The regime of General Robert Neyland and his four championships I missed. I also missed Condredge Holloway breaking new ground as a black quarterback in the SEC.

I missed out on seeing the great Jack "Hacksaw" Reynolds and the 1953 Chevrolet he sawed in half after losing to Mississippi 38-0 in 1969. Well, maybe I could have gone without seeing that (38-0 to Ole Miss, really?).

So how does someone like me compile a list of the best football players ever to play for Tennessee?  Let's just say I've done some reading.

Here it is, I give you the baddest football players to ever suit up for the Orange and White:

POSITION   —    STARTERS   —    RESERVES                                                                           

          OFFENSE

QB— Peyton Manning('94-'97), Condredge Holloway('72-'75), Heath Shuler('91-'94)

RB— Johnny Majors('53-'56), Reggie Cobb('87-'89), Jamal Lewis('97-'99)

RB— Travis Henry('97-'00), Hank Lauricella('49-'51), George Cafego('37-'40)

WR— Carl Pickens('89-'91), Robert Meachem('03-'07), Willie Gault('79-'82)

WR— Joey Kent('94-'97), Peerless Price('95-'98), Stanley Morgan('74-'77)

TE/WR— Jason Witten('00-'02), Marcus Nash('95-'98), Tim McGee('82-'85)

OT— Chad Clifton('96-'99), Arron Sears('03-'06)

OG— Bob Suffridge('38-'40), Herman Hickman('29-'31)

C— Chip Kell('68-'70), Scott Wells('00-'04)

OG— Harry Galbreath('85-'88), Ed Molinsky('38-'40)

OT— Cosey Coleman('97-'00), Jason Layman('92-'95)

       DEFENSE

DE— Reggie White('81-'84), Steve Delong('62-'65)

DE— Doug Atkins('50-'52), Shaun Ellis('97-'00)

DT— John Henderson('98-'01), Darwin Walker('97-'00)

DT— Albert Haynesworth('99-'02), Shane Burton('93-'96)

LB— Steve Kiner('67-'69), Raynoch Thompson('96-99)

LB— Al Wilson('96-'99), Jerod Mayo('04-'07)

LB— Leonard Little('94-'97), Jack "Hacksaw" Reynolds('67-'70)

CB— Dale Carter('88-'91), Jason Allen('02-'06)

CB— Terry Fair('95-'97), J.J. McCleskey('91-'94)

S— Deon Grant('97-'99), Richmond Flowers('66-'69)

S— Bill Bates('80-'83), Gibril Wilson('03-'04)

*So sorry Travis Stephens, for I know you deeply wanted to be on this list.

*Due to lack of information, a couple of these dates may be off a year.