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Tennessee football: 10 Vols who should be in CFB Hall of Fame

By Caleb Calhoun

Oct 10, 2009; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers cornerback Eric Berry (14) celebrates with his family following their defeat of the Georgia Bulldogs at Neyland Stadium. Tennessee defeated Georgia 45-19. Mandatory Credit: Paul Abell-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 10, 2009; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers cornerback Eric Berry (14) celebrates with his family following their defeat of the Georgia Bulldogs at Neyland Stadium. Tennessee defeated Georgia 45-19. Mandatory Credit: Paul Abell-USA TODAY Sports /
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On Monday, we wrote a post about the three former Vols plus Josh Heupel on the 2023 College Football Hall of Fame ballot, specifically pointing out how wrong it is that two Tennessee football players on that ballot aren’t already in there. Well, a deeper dive shows even more hate for the Vols by Hall of Fame voters.

An extensive breakdown of former UT players in the hall shows that far too many of them have actually been left out, and when you look at some of them who haven’t gone yet, it’s a downright travesty and an embarrassment for the sport. It’s time for somebody to be their advocate.

That’s what this post is going to do. Up front, it’s worth noting that this isn’t a ranking of the 10 best players not in the Hall. Criteria for best by Rocky Top standards and accomplishments for recognition by NCAA standards are different. Using that method, here are 10 Tennessee football players who should be in the College Football Hall of Fame.

It’s egregious that these 10 Tennessee football Volunteers aren’t already in the NCAA College Football Hall of Fame.

KNOXVILLE, TN – SEPTEMBER 12: A general view of the goalpost before a game between the UCLA Bruins and the Tennessee Volunteers on September 12, 2009 at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee. UCLA beat Tennessee 19-15. (Photo by Joe Murphy/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
KNOXVILLE, TN – SEPTEMBER 12: A general view of the goalpost before a game between the UCLA Bruins and the Tennessee Volunteers on September 12, 2009 at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee. UCLA beat Tennessee 19-15. (Photo by Joe Murphy/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /

1971-1974. Ricky Townsend. player. Pick Analysis. 10. 839. Scouting Report. Placekicker

In 1972 and 1973, Ricky Townsend earned First Team All-American honors. He’s the first two-time All-American placekicker in Tennessee football history.

When it comes to Ricky Townsend, it’s relative. By today’s standards of placekicking, he wouldn’t be in, as he missed five extra points in his career and was 33-of-51 for his career. His best season was his sophomore year, when he went 12-of-19 on field goals and hit all 31 extra point attempts, and he oddly got worse each year after that.

Still, relativity matters, and based on what placekickers were doing at the time, Townsend was among the best. He made back to back All-American teams for a reason, and he was also First Team All-SEC in 1972. That’s enough to put him on this list.

Townsend is actually Tennessee football’s first placekicker to secure All-American honors and second specialist behind Ron Widby. He’s behind four other guys when it comes to UT’s greatest placekickers ever, but in terms of accolades earned during his time, there’s no doubt he belongs in the Hall of Fame.

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