Best football player in TN History?

[VballBruins]

What about Ed "To Tall" Jones??To bad Joe Gilliam won't be in top 10 because he sure was awesome at TSU

[HEATHHELTON]

I always liked Bill Bates of Farragut, UT and Dallas Cowboy fame.

 

 

haha. anyone else remember the footage of hershal walker absolutely annihilating bates in a UT-UGA early 1980s showdown? as i understand it bates had talked trash about walker the whole week leading up to the game and big hersh laid that talk to rest.

[mofo11]

David Meske of webb has coached against top talent...exp. Troy Flemming, Patrick Turner, Brandon Warren, Jermaine Copeland just to name a few. He has even coached talent like NY Jets QB Chad Pennington. He said with out doubt that the best High School football player he has ever coached against was Golden Tate. I now he is not John Hannah or reggie white in the pros. But in terms of High School football only.... thats a pretty strong statement from someone who has been coaching football for 23 years in tennessee against some of the best the state has offered.

[BigDawgHasBeen]

Simple: Jason Witten > Elizabethton >> The University of Tennessee >>> The Dallas Cowboys.

[jimbo44]

Doug Atkins from West TN. Played at UT, then on to the NFL. Legend has it he was an animal.

 

The best. I heard that he went to Tennessee to play basketball. The General seen him and had a little talk. The rest is UT and NFL history. I think he lives in Cumberland Co now.

He created pain and chaos in the NFL for 20 yrs. He came out of retirement to play his last two years with the Saints in their begining.

[jimbo44]

Steve Spurrier

Reggie White

Bobby Dodd

Doug Atkins

Bobby Cifers

John Hannah

Todd Collins

Troy Fleming

Roll Tribe Roll

 

I forgot about Bobby Dodd. Correct me if i'm wrong, wasn't it Tennessee in the Rose Bowl in the late 30s?

[WCHSGRAD]

Steve Spurrier

Reggie White

Bobby Dodd

Doug Atkins

Bobby Cifers

John Hannah

Todd Collins

Troy Fleming

Roll Tribe Roll

 

 

Great list but no has mentioned the Great Johhny Majors. I think he was from around Huntland and what about his brothers also.

[jimbo44]

Great list but no has mentioned the Great Johhny Majors. I think he was from around Huntland and what about his brothers also.

 

That crossed my mind also. Johny Majors was number 2 in the Heisman voting his Sr yr. Played at Huntland and Lynchburg. The family moved with the dads (Shirly Majors) coaching jobs. Two brothers played at UT and later coached there. An other played at either Florida or Florida State.

 

I was at the Vandy/UT game when Johny made that 60 something kick return for a TD in Nashville. He must have run 200 yds side line to side line to get to the end zone.

 

That is the only UT or Vandy game I have ever been to.

[mofo11]

Chad Pennington was 3rd or 4th in the heisman. But in terms of High School no one would of predicted him to turn out like he has...he was sort of a late bloomer...none the less he still was a good high School player.

[JaxMan]

In terms of NFL results...Doug Atkins dominated for th Bears and is in the Hall of Fame...

 

In terms of High School Success...Troy Fleming...holds the single season scoring record in Tennessee High School Football

[TheLivingLegend]

There is no earthly way we could ever decide on this one is there? There are many guys that have achieved Legend Status in TN football history. I think it would be virtually impossible to name only the top 1. What if we made a top 20 list? That could be more practical.

[Rankinated2010]

Reggie White was the man , on and off the field , he cared and loved the game and his family

no doubt this is my pick