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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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Pick Analysis. Wide Receiver. player. 839. 3. Scouting Report. 1989-1991. Carl Pickens

We’re sticking with the tradition of Tennessee football as Wide Receiver U. Probably none of the guys who stand out on that list did so like Carl Pickens. Sure, guys like Anthony Miller and Alvin Harper joined Tim McGee and Willie Gault as very productive NFL players. But Pickens was the most spectacular athlete of all of them, and it showed early on.

As a freshman in 1989, Pickens mostly started at defensive back, where he came away with four interceptions. However, he also averaged over 11 yards per punt return, had a kickoff return for a touchdown and caught seven passes for 81 yards and two touchdowns. So he was already a star and helped lead the Vols to an SEC Championship that year.

When 1990 arrived, Johnny Majors moved him permanently over to wide receiver, allowing him to focus on offense and return duties. He didn’t disappoint that year either, catching 53 passes for 917 yards and six touchdowns while helping the program to a second straight SEC Championship.

In 1991, Pickens became a superstar. That year, he caught 49 passes for 877 yards and five touchdowns. However, he also averaged over 17 yards a punt return and had a touchdown on that front, which earned him All-American honors.

Pickens probably should have been named an All-American in 1990, as well. Still, he had 1,875 receiving yards, 13 receiving touchdowns, four interceptions, one kickoff return for a touchdown and one punt return for a touchdown in his career. Simply put, he was a true triple-thread and probably Johnny Majors’ greatest athlete.

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