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Tennessee football’s 10 RBs with greatest NFL careers

By Caleb Calhoun

BALTIMORE - DECEMBER 28: Running back Jamal Lewis #31 of the Baltimore Ravens on the sideline during the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 28, 2003 at the M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens won 13-10 in overtime. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE - DECEMBER 28: Running back Jamal Lewis #31 of the Baltimore Ravens on the sideline during the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 28, 2003 at the M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens won 13-10 in overtime. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images
Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images /

839. Scouting Report. 1992-1993. Years in NFL: 11. player. Pick Analysis. Charlie Garner. 3

Teams played for:

  • Philadelphia Eagles, 1994-1998
  • San Francisco 49ers, 1999-2000
  • Oakland Raiders, 2001-2003
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2004

What Alvin Kamara is doing, Charlie Garner did for over a decade. Garner joined James Stewart, along with Aaron Hayden and Mose Phillips, to complete an elite set of Tennessee football running backs as a junior college transfer in 1992. In two years on Rocky Top, he became the feature back, rushing for 2,089 yards and 10 touchdowns while averaging over six and a half yards a carry.

All of that led to Garner being selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the NFL Draft. After five years as a by-committee back there, one in which he led the league with nearly five and a half yards per carry and 588 yards in 1999, he joined the San Francisco 49ers in 2000.

Garner then developed into an all-purpose back, which made sense given his size at 5’10” 190 pounds. In two years with the 49ers, he had over 2,300 yards on the ground and over 3,500 yards from scrimmage with 16 total touchdowns, reaching a Pro Bowl in 2000.

That led to Garner signing with the Oakland Raiders. In 2002, he had the best year of his career, rushing for 962 yards, averaging nearly five and a half yards a carry, and gaining over 1,900 yards from scrimmage with 11 total touchdowns, leading the Raiders to the Super Bowl and helping quarterback Rich Gannon win MVP.

After one more year in Oakland, Garner spent one year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He gained over 7,000 rushing yards, averaged over four and a half yards a carry and had over 10,800 yards from scrimmage with 51 total touchdowns for his career.

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