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Tennessee football: Top 10 Vols who played for Johnny Majors

By Caleb Calhoun

ANAHEIM, CA - AUGUST 26: Wide receiver Carl Pickens #15 of the Tennessee Volunteers runs with the ball against the Colorado Buffaloes during the Pigskin Classic at Anaheim Stadium on August 26, 1990 in Anaheim, California. The Buffs and Vols tied 31-31. (Photo by Bernstein Associates/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA - AUGUST 26: Wide receiver Carl Pickens #15 of the Tennessee Volunteers runs with the ball against the Colorado Buffaloes during the Pigskin Classic at Anaheim Stadium on August 26, 1990 in Anaheim, California. The Buffs and Vols tied 31-31. (Photo by Bernstein Associates/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images
Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images /

Pick Analysis. Defensive Lineman. 1980-1983. Reggie White. 839. Scouting Report. 1. player

Was there ever any doubt about this one? Reggie White is one of the greatest players in Tennessee football history, arguably on the Mt. Rushmore of all-time Vols. Of course he was going to top this list.

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White arrived in 1980, just as Johnny Majors began establishing the tradition of looking for high-level talent. He was fortunate to have an elite player like White in his backyard, who came out of Chattanooga. It was clear early on that White would become a star, and Majors and his staff had moved him into the starting lineup at defensive tackle by the end of his freshman year.

After two sacks, four tackles for a loss, two forced and recovered fumbles and 51 total tackle that year, White burst onto the scene as a sophomore. He had eight sacks, 15 total tackles for a loss, three passes broken up and 95 tackles. He was set to become a superstar as a junior, but an injury hobbled him to just 47 tackles and seven sacks.

Then came White’s senior year. Healthy and experienced, he had arguably the greatest season ever for a defender, coming away with 100 tackles, a school-record 15 sacks, 24 total tackles for a loss, three passes broken up and an interception. It was an insane performance, and he set what was then the school-record for career sacks en route to becoming a 1983 All-American.

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White obviously went onto a Hall-of-Fame career in the NFL, but his college production was insane. He and Doug Atkins are probably Tennessee football’s greatest two defensive linemen of all time, and him getting these stats as a defensive tackle was even more insane. No player coached by Johnny Majors was greater.

For more posts remembering Johnny Majors’ accomplishments on Rocky Top as a player and coach for Tennessee football, please click here.

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