Tennessee Football: 5 Vols who will always be universally loved by fans
Tennessee Vols fans are some of the most passionate fans in all of sports. So it shouldn't come as a surprise that certain former Vols are held in high esteem by UT fans. While there are plenty of former Vols who are "beloved" by most, there are only a few that are "universally loved" by […]
Tennessee Vols fans are some of the most passionate fans in all of sports.
So it shouldn't come as a surprise that certain former Vols are held in high esteem by UT fans.
While there are plenty of former Vols who are "beloved" by most, there are only a few that are "universally loved" by all UT fans.
Honorable mention
When compiling this list, a few names came to mind that I couldn't quite include. Mostly because they either didn't make a big enough impact, their time at Tennessee was too recent, or they're too polarizing. Here are the names who just missed the cut.
Casey Clausen, Alvin Kamara, Josh Dobbs, Johnny Majors, Phillip Fulmer and Jason Witten.
It was incredibly tough to not include Fulmer or Majors, but depending on the age of the Vol fan, they can be polarizing figures.
5 most universally loved Vols —>>>
Featured image via Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Eric Berry (2007-2009)
When I started thinking of players who are universally loved by Vol fans, several names automatically popped into my mind.
To my surprise, Eric Berry was one of those names. At first, I was skeptical of including Berry on this list. But after giving it some thought, I think he's the perfect example of a player who is loved by nearly every Tennessee fan on the planet.
Berry had a solid career at Tennessee under Phillip Fulmer and Lane Kiffin. The Georgia native was named the SEC defensive player of the year after the 2008 season. He also received the Jim Thorpe Award (annually given to college football's top defensive back) after his junior season. After foregoing his final year of eligibility, Berry was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs with the fifth overall selection in the 2010 NFL Draft.
During nine seasons with the Chiefs, Berry was named to five Pro-Bowls. He was also named the comeback player of the year in 2015 after being treated for Hodgkins lymphoma.
Image via Getty
Reggie White (1980-1983)
Reggie White wasn't just one of the greatest players in college football history, he was one of the greatest players ever in the NFL.
The Minister of Defense finished his career at Tennessee with 293 total tackles and 32 sacks (which was a school record until Derek Barnett broke it in 2016).
After White's career at UT ended, he played in the USFL for two seasons. He was then selected in the NFL supplemental draft by the Philadelphia Eagles.
White went on to reach 13 Pro-Bowls, win defensive player of the year twice and lead the NFL in sacks twice. He also won a Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers.
The Chattanooga native passed away in late 2004. After his untimely death, White's number 92 jersey was retired at Tennessee. He was posthumously elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006.
Image via Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Condredge Holloway (1971-1974)
There aren't many folks more revered in East Tennessee than Condredge Holloway.
The Alabama native could've easily been a professional baseball player (he was drafted by the Montreal Expos with the No. 4 overalll selection in the 1971 MLB draft), but Condredge's mother insisted he take the college route.
While at Tennessee, Holloway became the first African-American to start at quarterback in the SEC. During his time as a Vol, Holloway compiled a 25-9-2 record. He threw only 12 interceptions on 407 attempts.
Holloway was also an accomplished baseball player at UT, finishing his career with a .353 batting average.
Recently, Holloway retired from his post as assistant athletics director for student athlete relations/lettermen at Tennessee.
Image via Tennessee Alumnus
Al Wilson (1995-1998)
When you think of the hard nosed football players that were a fixture during Phillip Fulmer's career as Tennessee's head coach, Al Wilson is typically the first player that comes to mind.
Wilson was a key member of Tennessee's 1998 National Championship game. One of the highlights of the season was his 12 tackle performance against the Florida Gators (he also forced three fumbles that game). Wilson missed three games due to injury in 1998, but the team captain still managed to finish third on the team in tackles with 77.
The Tennessee native was selected in the first round of the 1999 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos. He played in five Pro-Bowls before officially retiring in 2008.
Image via Denver Post
Peyton Manning (1994-1997)
Everyone loves Peyton Manning, not just Vols fans, Colts fans and Broncos fans.
Sure, there are a few folks here and there who claim to dislike Manning, but those are the outliers.
Manning's status as a beloved figure in Vol history was solidified when he announced his intentions to return to Tennessee for his senior season.
Manning didn't win a championship, or a Heisman Trophy, at Tennessee, but he still put together one of the greatest careers in Vol history.
And he was even better in the NFL.
During a career that spanned 17 years, Manning was named to 14 Pro-Bowls, named league MVP five times and won two Super Bowls. He's also the NFL's all time leader in touchdown passes with 539.
Manning is easily one of the most popular Vols of all time. And he's also one of the most beloved figures in UT athletics history.
Image via Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
