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Tennessee football: Top 10 junior college Vols of all time

By Caleb Calhoun

6 Sep 1997: Defensive tackle Leonard Little of the Tennessee Volunteers stands on the field during a game against the UCLA Bruins at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. Tennessee won the game 30-24.
6 Sep 1997: Defensive tackle Leonard Little of the Tennessee Volunteers stands on the field during a game against the UCLA Bruins at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. Tennessee won the game 30-24. /
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Photo by Doug Pensinger/AllSport
Photo by Doug Pensinger/AllSport /

Pick Analysis. Running Back. 5. Charlie Garner. player. 839. Scouting Report. 1992-1993

In 1992, Charlie Garner made a gutsy decision. Tennessee football had three standout running backs in Mose Phillips, Aaron Hayden and James “Little Man” Stewart. However, he decided to join that group of elite rushers coming out of Scottsdale Community College in Scottsdale, Ariz. It turned out to be the perfect decision.

Garner arrived just as Heath Shuler was taking over at quarterback for Andy Kelly. Shuler was a dual-threat who allowed Phillip Fulmer and David Cutcliffe to open up the offense. With Fulmer filling in as interim head coach for Johnny Majors in early 1992, Garner emerged as the perfect all-purpose back at 5’10” 190 pounds. He was the perfect complement to that group of backs.

We know the story of that year, with UT starting 3-0 under Fulmer, beating the Georgia Bulldogs and Florida Gators, getting to 5-0 and in the top five with Majors back, and then losing three straight to see Majors get fired. As the drama ended with the Vols going 9-3 and Fulmer replacing Majors, going 4-0, Garner had 928 rushing yards and two touchdowns, averaging six yards a carry.

Cutcliffe took over the offense in 1993, and Garner became the feature back. He was a big reason for the offense that Fulmer said was out to score every play, rushing for 1,161 yards and eight touchdowns, averaging nearly seven and a half yards a carry. Garner became a star and enjoyed an 11-year NFL career with four teams, reaching the 2000 Pro Bowl and Super Bowl XXXVII.

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