Tennessee football’s top 10 injury replacements in school history

He had an up and down career with Tennessee football. Arian Foster’s tenure stood out with untimely fumbles and two very underwhelming seasons in 2006 and 2008. However, he was battling injuries that first year, and he was just not a good fit for Dave Clawson’s offense his senior year, which killed his draft stock.

Foster was still a great team player, and he mastered all aspects of playing running back, including vision, pass-catching and being a great blocker. In fact, his blocking is a reason for the Vols setting an SEC record for fewest sacks allowed in a regular season in 2007 with only three. Anyway, while this was all expected, it happened prematurely.

As a redshirt freshman, Foster was set to back up Gerald Riggs Jr. However, Riggs, an All-American candidate, suffered a season-ending injury against the Alabama Crimson Tide. At that point, Foster stepped in, and in a horrible offensive season, he became the one star on that side, rushing for nearly 900 yards and five touchdowns.

The next year, Foster took a major step back due to an injury and poor run blocking. However, as a junior, he finally emerged, helping the Vols win the SEC East by rushing for 1,193 yards and 12 touchdowns and catching 39 passes for 340 yards and another two touchdowns. After stepping in for Riggs, he finished No. 2 on the school’s all-time career rushing yards leaderboard.