Tennessee Football All-Time Team: Historical Vols Depth Chart

Dec 7, 2015; Landover, MD, USA; Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten (82) runs with the ball after the catch during the third quarter against the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field. Dallas Cowboys defeated Washington Redskins 19-16. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Tight End

1. Jason Witten

Jason Witten is inching closer to Peyton Manning status at this position without the rings. But who holds rings against tight ends?

In just one and a half years as the full-time starter at tight end for the Vols, Witten had 68 receptions for 797 yards and seven touchdowns. His coming out party was the 2001 Alabama game, the seventh straight the Vols had won in the series at the time, and he just continued his dominance from there.

Witten became the top receiver for a Tennessee team decimated by injuries in 2002, catching the game-winning touchdown to beat the Arkansas Razorbacks in six overtimes 41-38 and changing the game against Mississippi State later that year.

Going onto an NFL career that might have established him as the greatest tight end in league history means he is clearly No. 1 on this depth chart.

2. David Martin

He was actually a receiver at Tennessee, and a case here could be made for Luke Stocker. But David Martin’s NFL career as a tight end is what puts him on this list.

A career slot receiver in college, Martin had 46 catches for 543 yards and five touchdowns, but he had 285 yards and three touchdowns in a rebuilding year in 2000 for the Vols as one of their leaders.

He is a perfect fit for a tight end, going on to show that in the NFL at 6’4″ 260 pounds and stringing together an 11-year career with the Green Bay Packers, Buffalo Bills, and Miami Dolphins.

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