Tennessee football all-time roster: Offensive starters and backups
The University of Tennessee first fielded a football team in 1891.
The Vols have won 19 conference championships since then: Southeastern Conference (16), Southern Conference (2) and SIAA (1).
Tennessee has won six Southeastern Conference East division titles since the league went to a divisional format in 1992. The Vols won the Southeastern Conference East division in 1997, 1998, 2001, 2004 and 2007.
The Vols have won six national championships in 1938, 1940, 1950, 1951, 1967 and 1998 throughout its history. Tennessee has appeared in 54 bowl games all time. The Vols are 29-25 in bowl contests.
Ahead of the 2022 season, Vols Wire looks at Tennessee’s all-time football roster. Below are the Vols’ all-time offensive starters and backups throughout its program history.
Starting QB: Peyton Manning
Photo By USA TODAY Sports
The 1997 All-American left Tennessee as one of the Vols’ most decorated players and won the 1997 SEC championship.
Backup QB: Bobby Dodd
Knoxville News Sentinel Archive via USA TODAY NETWORK
Tennessee went 27-1-2 with Dodd at quarterback from 1928-30 under head coach Robert Neyland.
Starting RB: Johnny Majors
© News Sentinel Photo Archive
The tailback and punter was the 1956 SEC Player of the Year and Heismn runner-up.
Backup RB: Travis Stephens
Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images
An All-American who rushed for 2,336 yards and 21 touchdowns in his career at Tennessee.
Starting WR1: Larry Seivers
© News Sentinel Archive
The two-time All-American was the first Tennessee wide receiver to record 800 yards in a season.
Check out our other College Wire all-time lineups:
Alabama / Arkansas / Auburn / Clemson / Colorado / Florida / Georgia / Iowa / LSU / Michigan / Michigan State / Nebraska / North Carolina / Notre Dame / Ohio State / Oklahoma / Oregon / Penn State / Rutgers / Texas / Texas A&M / USC / Wisconsin
Backup WR1: Tim McGee
Tim McGee in the NFL. Peter Brouillet-USA TODAY NETWORK
McGee recorded 15 touchdown receptions and 2,042 yards while playing for the Vols.
Starting WR2: Marcus Nash
© Jed Jacobsohn
Nash recorded a single-season record for touchdown receptions with 13 at Tennessee.
Backup WR2: Peerless Price
(AP Photo/Eric Draper)
Price recorded a 79-yard touchdown reception in the 1998 national championship game and left Tennessee third in receiving yards.
Starting WR3:
Andy Lyons/Allsport
Kent averaged more than 70 yards per game from 1994-96.
Backup WR3: Carl Pickens
Robert Johnson / The Tennessean
Pickens played on two SEC championship teams under head coach Johnny Majors.
Starting TE: Jason Witten
(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
In 20 games as a tight end, Witten recorded 68 receptions and 797 yards.
Backup TE: Ethan Wolf
Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Wolf left Tennessee fourth in receiving yards among tight ends with 822 yards.
Starting C: Bob Johnson
Bob Johnson second from left. Jimmy Ellis / The Tennessean
Johnson was a two-time All-American for the Vols while anchoring the offensive line from 1966-67.
Backup C: Raleigh McKenzie
Raleigh McKenzie in the NFL. Doug Pensinger/ALLSPORT
McKenzie came to Tennessee as a linebacker before moving to center and played for the Vols from 1981-84.
Starting G: Chip Kell
#50Days: 3x All-SEC performer and 2x All-American OL Chip Kell dons the No. 50 as a member of the @cfbhall! pic.twitter.com/arbYkaXAri
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) July 18, 2015
Kell is a College Football Hall of Famer and a two-time All-American for Tennessee.
Backup G: Ed Molinski
#36Days: Guard Ed Molinski wore #36 for UT from 1938-40 and was a two-time All-American in 1939 & 1940. #VFL36 pic.twitter.com/anHPNwGJvg
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) July 31, 2015
Tennessee went 31-2 during his time at Tennessee and was named an All-American twice.
Starting G: Cosey Coleman
(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
A two-time All-SEC standout and two-time All-American, starting every game for the 1998 national champions.
Backup G: Bob Suffridge
Happy Birthday to the #Vols only 3-time All-American Bob Suffridge, who would turned 98 today. #VFL pic.twitter.com/HDRstDHxM9
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) March 17, 2014
A three-time All-American and played for Robert Neyland from 1938-40.
Starting T: Michael Munoz
(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
Played at Tennessee from 2000-04 and was an All-American and Draddy Trophy winner as a senior.
Backup T: Antone Davis
Antone Davis in the NFL. Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports
An All-American in 1990 and was named the SEC’s top blocker.
Starting T: Chad Clifton
Scott Halleran /Allsport
Clifton won 43 career games at Tennessee.
Backup T: Ja'Wuan James
Kelly Lambert-USA TODAY Sports
Started 49 career games at Tennessee.
