ALL TIME GREATEST PLAYER IN TN

[Red Rebels]

Albert Davis Sr. from Alcoa was pretty good. I think he played for the Philadelphia Eagles.

[CHS 2007]

Im suprised that no one here has brought up Longmire from Bruceton Central. He was a solid two-way player and could be played as both a Running Back and a Wide Reciever and is ranked in the top 50 nationally in several offensive categories. I'm also suprised no one brought up Patrick Turner. Although his stats weren't stacked like other recievers, he was always the guy you could give the ball to in clutch situations. He was also the #1 ranked prospect a few years ago and now is a solid 3rd reciever at USC behind Smith and Jarrett.

Edited November 2, 2006 by CHS 2007

[biglon68]

Doug Atkins is the All-Time Greatest Football Player from Tennessee

 

DE, Humboldt, TN

 

All-American at Tennessee 1952

All-SEC 1951 & 1952

#1 Draft Pick of Cleveland Browns

Retired with 205 NFL games played, a record at the time for a defensive lineman.

Voted SEC Player of the Quarter Century (1950-1974)

Member Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame

Member College Football Hall of Fame

Member Pro Football Hall of Fame

1968 Vince Lombardi Award Winner

Voted All-Pro 9 Times

Number retired at Tennessee

 

George “Papa Bear” Halas called Atkins “the greatest defensive end who ever played the game.”

 

“He is the strongest man in football and also the biggest,” quarterback great Fran Tarkenton said. “When he rushes the passer with those oak tree arms of his way up in the air, he’s 12-feet tall. And if he gets to you, the world suddenly starts spinning.”

 

"I considered myself the best guard of this century and I played against some mean ones, but I never met anyone meaner than Atkins. After my first meeting with him, I really wanted to quit pro football. Finally my coaches convinced me not every pro player was like Atkins." - Jim Parker NFL Hall of Famer

Edited November 2, 2006 by biglon68

[big red big blue]

A lot of these posts include accomplishments after high school, on just high school accomplishments, here are my top 5's

 

High School only:

Leroy Thompson - Austin-East

Troy Fleming - Battleground Academy

Bobby Cifers - Dobyns-Bennett

Reggie White - Chattanooga Howard

Xavier Crawford - Memphis Tresevant

 

Top 5 Based on high school and college:

Steve Spurrier - Science Hill/Florida

Joe Steffy - Baylor/Tennessee & Army

John Henderson - Pearl-Cohn/Tennessee

Bobby Dodd - Dobyns-Bennett/Tennessee

Johnny Majors - Huntland/Tennessee

 

Top 5 Based on high school/college/pro careers

Doug Atkins - Humboldt/Tennessee/19 years NFL, both college and pro HOF

Reggie White - Howard/Tennessee/member both college and pro HOF

John Hannah - Baylor School/Alabama/member both college and pro HOF

Bill Wade - MBA/Vanderbilt/13 years NFL,First pick of 1954 NFL Draft

Bob Johnson - Bradley County/Tennessee/12 NFL Seasons,#1 draft pick

 

awesome list!!!

 

A few to add (some in your list, some in the next tier)

 

Al Wilson, JCM

EJ Junior, Maplewood

Mose Phillips, Hillsboro

Kelly Holcomb, Lincoln County (still with the Buffalo Bills)

Travis Stephens, Clarksville NE

Bubba Miller, BA

Keith Davis, Overton

Shelton Quarrells, White's Creek

 

edit--man, talk about tradition! I had no idea Bobby Dodd went to Dobyns-Bennett. now that is a program with some roots.

Edited November 2, 2006 by big red big blue

[slobberknocker52]

Jeff Vaughn was a great high school player out of Dickson County.

[Bishop Don A. Shizzle]

I didn't know he went to school in TN. What school did he go to?

 

 

Playes in the Knoxville area...maybe Maryville?? or Knox Central. Not sure,

 

How about Chad Pennington...

 

and Im surprised no one has said T.O. yet, yeah, he is annoying, but a great player. He is from the Chattanooga area right?

[McNine4MVP]

Doug Atkins

Reggie White

Steve Spurrier

E.J. Junior

Al Wilson

Shelton Quarles

Chad Clifton

Jason Witten

Kelly Holcomb

Chad Pennington

John Henderson

Bobby Dodd

John Majors

Billy Wade

John Hannah

Justin Harrell

Patrick Turner

Leroy Thompson

Jeff Vaughn

Calvin Hall

Mose Phillips

Travis Stephens

Bill Johnson

Lester McClain

[CHS 2007]

Playes in the Knoxville area...maybe Maryville?? or Knox Central. Not sure,

 

How about Chad Pennington...

 

and Im surprised no one has said T.O. yet, yeah, he is annoying, but a great player. He is from the Chattanooga area right?

No. TO actually attended high school in Atlanta. He just went to UTC.

[CHS 2007]

Just a quick clarification.

 

When I posted this topic, I did not neccissarily mean "who is the best football player from Tennessee". I meant who had the best high school career. I don't know if that changes any of your answers or not.

[DCCougarxprt74]

I would add Carl goo-baby Woods to this list.He played at Gallitin and went on to play at Vandy, also would mention Tim Johnson, played at Lincoln co. and played for Vandy. These two guys played each other in one of the most exciting High school football games that I have ever watch. They played for state championship in 1982. Game went into OT.LC won game on a sweep to the right by Tim Johnson.

[DicksonCounty001]

I would add Carl goo-baby Woods to this list.He played at Gallitin and went on to play at Vandy, also would mention Tim Johnson, played at Lincoln co. and played for Vandy. These two guys played each other in one of the most exciting High school football games that I have ever watch. They played for state championship in 1982. Game went into OT.LC won game on a sweep to the right by Tim Johnson.

Hey how about Wilhoit from Hendrsonville now that boy can kick and he will be kicking on sundays in the NFL and one more Brin Kimbro From Dickson.

[chasescott66]

Bill Bates

 

Neil Clabo