Tennessee football’s top 10 injury replacements in school history

The 1998 national championship team was all about next man up. Tennessee football had to replace Heisman candidate Peyton Manning with Tee Martin. They had also lost All-American linebacker Leonard Little, record-setting receiver Marcus Nash and three other All-SEC guys. Returning freshman All-American running back Jamal Lewis would be this team’s star.

Lewis had 143 yards in a season-opening 34-33 win at No. 17 ranked Syracuse and went over 70 yards in a defensive slugfest as the Vols ended their streak against with a 20-17 overtime win against the No. 2 Florida Gators. Two weeks later, however, in a 17-9 win at the Auburn Tigers, he suffered a season-ending injury. So UT had to replace another superstar.

Enter Travis Henry and Travis Stephens. Stephens was the speedster and Henry was the workhorse. As the weather got colder, Henry got more carries. He had two fourth-quarter touchdowns against the Alabama Crimson Tide and 197 yards, touching the ball every play, during the Vols’ game-winning drive in their comeback over the No. 10 ranked Arkansas Razorbacks.

Henry’s play was key to UT winning the national title, as he finished the year with 970 yards and seven touchdowns on 176 carries. The next year, he earned a co-starting role despite Lewis’ return, and he became the full-time starter and all-time leading rusher in 2000 after Lewis left. So when his time arrived, he became a star.