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Tennessee football: 10 greatest true freshman seasons in Vols history

By Caleb Calhoun

18 Oct 1997: Jamal Lewis of the Tennessee Volunteers runs with the ball during a game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. Tennessee won the game 42-6.
18 Oct 1997: Jamal Lewis of the Tennessee Volunteers runs with the ball during a game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. Tennessee won the game 42-6. /
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Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images /

Yes, we go all the way back to 1973 for this one. Stanley Morgan was a trendsetter for Tennessee football. He began the tradition of the Vols becoming Wide Receiver U before Johnny Majors even got there, and he was the first true freshman to ever have a big impact for UT.

Playing with Condredge Holloway and in Bill Battle’s run-first, defense-oriented system, Morgan somehow managed as a true freshman to rack up 22 receptions for 511 yards and four touchdowns. For what it’s worth, he added 32 rushing yards.Those are actually pretty incredible numbers for a receiver in the early 1970s.

Meanwhile, Morgan helped the program to an 8-4 season and a top 20 finish. Over the years, he would eventually become a major offensive threat, racking up more yards on the ground his sophomore through senior seasons and tripling as a receiver, running back and kick returner.

But as a freshman, Morgan was purely a wide receiver, and he was a very effective one at that. There’s no way to ignore just how much of an impact player he was and how he changed the tradition of the Vols with his play this year. That’s why we had to put him on the list. He’s a legend on Rocky Top for a reason.

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