All for Tennessee
Fansided

Tennessee Football: Former Vols Safety Deon Grant Named to 2016 SEC Legends Class

By Caleb Calhoun

Sep 17, 2016; Knoxville, TN, USA; General view during the first half of the game between the Ohio Bobcats and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2016; Knoxville, TN, USA; General view during the first half of the game between the Ohio Bobcats and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Tennessee football’s 2016 Southeastern Conference legend has been named. Former Volunteers safety Deon Grant was named to the class.

He was a key member of the 1998 Tennessee football national championship team and became a record-setting defensive back in 1999. Former Vol Deon Grant was a star defensive back for three years with Tennessee from 1997 to 1999.

And now, he is getting his due for it.

The free safety will represent Tennessee football as a member of the 2016 SEC Legends class, which was announced on Tuesday on SEC Sports online. 

Related Story: Tennessee Football All Time Team: Vols Historical Roster

Grant had 14 interceptions for his career in Knoxville, including nine in 1999, which led the NCAA and remains the most for any Vol since 1971.

More from Vols Football

One of Grant’s most notable plays came in the 1998 national championship year, when he had a late fourth-quarter interception against Florida with the score tied at 17. That game obviously went into overtime, and the Vols won.

In 1999, Grant almost delivered another victory for the Vols over the Gators thanks to a late fourth-quarter interception. Tennessee was down 23-21 at the time.

However, they were unable to get any points off of that pick despite being past midfield.

That same year, though, Grant had a three-interception game against Auburn, including one on the first play from scrimmage that went for a touchdown.

If you do any all-time Tennessee football roster, Grant has to be on the list. He was a ball-hawking safety who knew how to change games.

After 1999, he left early for the NFL. The Carolina Panthers took him in the second round of the 2000 NFL Draft. He helped that franchise get to the Super Bowl in 2003.

Grant enjoyed a 12-year career in the NFL. After Carolina, he spent three years with the Jacksonville Jaguars, three with the Seattle Seahawks, and two with the New York Giants.

Must Read: 2016 College Football Playoff Scenarios for Vols

His last season in 2011, he helped the Giants win the Super Bowl. That win secured him a championship at every level. He won a Super Bowl, a college national title, and a state title in 1995 at Josey High in Georgia.

As a result, he is the definition of a champion.

Home/Vols Football