Tennessee Football All-Time Team: Historical Vols Depth Chart

Nov 15, 2014; Knoxville, TN, USA; General view of Neyland Stadium during the first half of the game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Kentucky Wildcats. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

Fullback

Shawn Bryson

Given the fact that the fullback position is a dying position in college football, it would be a waste on any current roster to have fullback spots. However, it is still a useful position.

Therefore, one fullback spot is still a very valuable thing to have, and in Tennessee football history, there is no fullback that had a greater impact on the program than Shawn Bryson.

Bryson could also be a running back, so he can at least keep up with the evolution of college football.

But Bryson’s success is rooted in what he did as a fullback on the 1998 national championship team. Bryson was the fastest player on the team and had a running back build, but his primary purpose was blocking.

That blocking allowed for Travis Henry and Travis Stephens to step up when Jamal Lewis went down with an injury. Bryson was a bruiser, and at the same time, he was a runner.

One of the most memorable plays of the 1998 season is Bryson outrunning the entire Florida defense for a 60-yard touchdown against the Gators, playing his role to help the team win that game 20-17 in overtime.

Another memorable play was catching the first touchdown in the national title game. All of this considered, Bryson is clearly the best fullback in Tennessee football history. And despite this position dying, he would still belong on the depth chart.

Next: Wide Receiver #1