Wide Receiver
1. Carl Pickens (Wideout No. 1), 1989-1991
Johnny Majors is responsible for turning Tennessee football into Wide Receiver U, and after years of building the program into that, the star of the group became Carl Pickens. An eventual All-American, Pickens caught 109 passes for 1,879 yards and 13 touchdowns.
At 6’2″ 206 pounds, Pickens has the size to be a wideout. He’s ridiculously athletic, evidenced by him returning punts in college and even playing defensive back as a freshman. There’s a reason UT won back to back SEC titles with him and that he had a nine-year Pro Bowl NFL career.
2. Tim McGee (Slot Receiver), 1982-1985
Before Carl Pickens, Tim McGee was the star receiver. He was the go-to guy on the 1985 SEC Championship team, earning All-American honors himself. For his career, McGee had 123 receptions for 2,042 yards and 15 touchdowns.
McGee is a huge reason UT withstood the loss of Tony Robinson in 1985 and Daryl Dickey thrived. His nine-year NFL career proved his talent. At 5’10” 183 pounds, he’d be the slot guy in Majors’ all-time depth chart.
3. Anthony Hancock (Wideout No. 2), 1978-1981
Carl Pickens and Tim McGee are the stars, but another guy has to line up opposite Pickens. Anthony Hancock would be that guy. A 6’0″ possession receiver who had a five-year NFL career, Hancock was All-SEC in 1981 and had 106 catches for 1,826 yards and 12 touchdowns plus two rushing touchdowns. He would be the perfect complement to McGee and Pickens.
4. Alvin Harper, 1987-1990
There’s a reason Andy Kelly set so many records. He was throwing to Pickens and Alvin Harper. At 6’3″, Harper would be the other wideout here backing up Pickens. The future two-time Super Bowl champion who spent nine years in the pros had 102 catches for 1,547 yards and 16 touchdowns, leading UT to back to back SEC titles as well.
5. Joey Clinkscales, 1983-1986
So many other people could have been on this list, but we’re going with Joey Clinkscales. Another 6’0″ possession receiver, he’d back up Hancock directly. Both guys would back up McGee in the slot as well. Anyway, Clinkscales had 68 catches for 1,105 yards and 10 touchdowns at UT and was another player critical to the 1985 SEC title team. He then spent two years in the pros.