Tennessee football’s top 10 NFL players of 2010s

DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 8: Quarterback Peyton Manning #18 of the Denver Broncos throws a pass during the third quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Sports Authority Field Field at Mile High on December 8, 2013 in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Titans 51-28. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 8: Quarterback Peyton Manning #18 of the Denver Broncos throws a pass during the third quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Sports Authority Field Field at Mile High on December 8, 2013 in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Titans 51-28. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
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Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images
Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images

Honorable Mentions

Morgan Cox, Long Snapper (2010-2019)

Teams played for:

  • Baltimore Ravens (2010-2019)

Accolades:

  • Three Pro Bowls (2015, 2016, 2019)
  • Super Bowl Championship (2012-13)

Nobody is more accomplished on paper than Morgan Cox in this list. He helps Tennessee football’s case as an elite special teams program. Cox started every game for the Baltimore Ravens this decade as a long snapper. By making a three Pro Bowls and winning a Super Bowl, there’s nothing he hasn’t done. But as a long snapper, we obviously couldn’t make him one of the 10 guys.

Britton Colquitt, Punter (2009-2019)

Teams played for:

  • Denver Broncos (2010-2015)
  • Cleveland Browns (2016-2018)
  • Minnesota Vikings (2019)

Accolades:

  • Super Bowl Championship (2015-16)

Similar to Morgan Cox, to be a special teams guy in any way, you have to be legendary. Britton Colquitt is a Tennessee football legacy who has started every game this decade with three different franchises and even won a Super Bowl championship. So he deserves a mention. However, he didn’t make a Pro Bowl, which makes him honorable mention.

Luke Stocker, Tight End (2011-2019)

Teams played for:

  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2011-2017)
  • Tennessee Titans (2017-2018)
  • Atlanta Falcons (2019)

An underrated blocking tight end, Luke Stocker, Robert Ayers and Dan Williams were all in competition as guys from the Phillip Fulmer era to make this spot. Stocker played more years overall, though, and more years this decade while appearing in 114 games and starting in 77 with four different teams. He’s more of a blocking tight end, but he has scored five touchdowns.

Malik Jackson, Defensive Lineman (2012-2019)

Teams played for:

  • Denver Broncos (2012-2015)
  • Jacksonville Jaguars (2016-2018)
  • Philadelphia Eagles (2019)

Accolades:

  • Super Bowl Championship (2015-16)

Malik Jackson just barely missed the actual top 10 list. In four years with the Denver Broncos, he became a star, scoring a defensive touchdown in his Super Bowl 50 win. He then got the Jacksonville Jaguars to the playoffs. So the guy has been an elite defensive tackle. He has 239 tackles, 55 tackles for a loss, six forced fumbles and 32.5 sacks in just 111 games and 67 starts.

Zach Fulton, Offensive Lineman (2014-2019)

Teams played for:

  • Kansas City Chiefs (2014-2017)
  • Houston Texans (2018-2019)

Zach Fulton and Ja’Wuan James were two members of the Dooley era who made the pros after playing their final year on Rocky Top under Butch Jones. Transitioning to that spread didn’t hold either back. However, Fulton slightly gets the edge because he has been more reliable. James is probably better, but Fulton hasn’t missed significant time due to injury yet.