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Tennessee football: Johnny Majors all-time depth chart

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 /

Defensive Tackle

1. Reggie White, 1980-1983

Do we even have to explain this one? The NFL’s greatest defensive end was actually a defensive tackle for Tennessee football, and he put up unheard of numbers in four years with the Vols. Reggie White set the school record for career sacks with 32, since broken by Derek Barnett.

White’s 1983 campaign on Rocky Top is probably the most dominant year any defensive player has ever had in school history. He had 15 sacks, still a school record, and was the catalyst for UT going 9-3. For get Johnny Majors’ all-time team. White is the best Vols defensive lineman ever.

2. Jim Noonan, 1976-1980

In his early years, Jim Noonan played linebacker for the Vols. However, when Johnny Majors arrived, Noonan moved to middle guard, which was the nose tackle position in the 5-2 defense Rocky Top ran during the early 1980s.

While playing in that system, Noonan became an All-SEC player, proving his value. As a result, we’d have him starting alongside white on Johnny Majors’ all-time team in a standard 4-3. This would be an elite duo.

3. Chris Mims, 1990-1991

Technically, Chris Mims played defensive end, and he even had a nine-year NFL career there. However, the Vols are so thin among defensive tackles from the Johnny Majors years that we moved bigger ends into the position. Mims stood at 6’5″ 288 pounds. His 90 tackles, 19.5 tackles for a loss and 12 passes broken up proves he could play in the middle.

4. Marion Hobby, 1986-1989

Similar to Chris Mims, Marion Hobby was more of a defensive end. At 6’4″ 277 pounds, he could play in the middle during his time. Hobby was replaced by Mims, as both helped UT win one of Majors’ two back to back SEC Championships on the line. In four years Hobby had 217 tackles, seven sacks, 24 tackles for a loss and 11 passes broken up. He had a three-year NFL career.

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