KNOXVILLE — The University of Tennessee has a proud football program rich in history and tradition, and over the years many great players have played on Rocky Top.
Vols Wire looks at which players wore each jersey number for the Volunteers.
No. 61
The number is retired in honor of Willis Tucker. Tucker was the first player to wear the number for UT. He played center for the Big Orange in 1939 and 1940.
He is one of four Tennessee players to be killed in action in World War II. He, Clyde Fuson, Rudy Klarer and Bill Nowling all perished in the war and had their numbers retired prior to Tennessee’s game against Air Force in 2006.
Nowling wore No. 32, Klarer wore No. 49, Tucker was No. 61 and Fuson sported No. 62 on Rocky Top.
No. 61 was last worn at Tennessee by defensive tackle Gordon Roberts in 1985.
All-time players to wear No. 61 at Tennessee:
Willis Tucker (1939-40)
Horace Moore (1944)
Hal Bridges (1955-56)
Wayne Grubb (1957-60)
Steve Coleman (1961)
Carl Ellis (1962-63)
Bobby Morel (1964-66)
Kelley Lacoste (1967)
Clifton Stewart (1968)
Chad Simonton (1969-1970)
Steve Mitchell (1971-73)
Chris Webster (1974)
Scott Ferrar (1974)
Ralph Bullard (1975)
Brent Akin (1977)
Chris Bolton (1979-80)
Gordon Roberts (1985)
*Source: 2019 Tennessee Football Media Guide