Outside Linebacker
1. Earnest Fields, 1987-1991
A regular contributor on Tennessee football’s back to back SEC Championship teams, Earnest Fields was solid in 1989 and became a star in 1990 and 1991. For his career, he had over 400 tackles to go with four and a half sacks and 19.5 tackles for a loss.
Simply put, Fields was an elite playmaker at outside linebacker. He didn’t have an NFL career, but he didn’t need one. His production in college makes him the top outside linebacker on Johnny Majors’ all-time team, so he gets the start.
2. Darryl Hardy, 1988-1991
Yes, both outside linebackers who started on the 1991 team are the starting outside linebackers on Majors’ all-time team. Darryl Hardy is famous for the blocked kick that Floyd Miley returned the other way for a touchdown to spark the Miracle at South Bend.
Beyond that, though, Hardy was a four-year player who joined with Fields to help Rocky Top win back to back SEC titles. He finished his career with over 300 tackles to go with five and a half sacks and 19.5 tackles for a loss. That production gets him the other starting spot.
3. Craig Puki, 1975-1979
After spending his first year as a running back, Craig Puki converted to linebacker in Bill Battle’s final season. He then suffered a season-ending injury in 1977. However, in 1978 and 1979, he thrived under Johnny Majors with over 253 total tackles, three sacks, four forced fumbles and six passes broken up, earning All-SEC honors in 1979.
4. Danny Spradlin, 1977-1980
This one came down to Reggie McKenzie and Danny Spradlin, and while McKenzie was better in the NFL, Spradling was better for Tennessee football. He actually spent two years starting with Puki, and he had over 100 tackles each of his final two seasons along with four tackles for a loss and eight forced fumbles those years. So he’d be a great rotational playmaker here.