Fab Four: Selecting Tennessee football’s Mount Rushmore of all-time recruits

On the eve of early signing day, Vols Wire recalls the most hyped commits in school history.

Peyton Manning

Nov. 30, 1996; Knoxville, TN; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Peyton Manning in action against Vanderbilt in his final college football game at Neyland Stadium. Tennessee defeated Vanderbilt 14-7. Photo By USA TODAY Sports

Peyton Manning is arguably the greatest recruiting prospect ever signed by the University of Tennessee.

In a time before most recruiting evaluation services existed, Manning was the most famous high school prospect in the country when deciding where he would sign as part of the 1994 recruiting class.

The son of Ole Miss legend Archie Manning, it was almost assumed Manning would end up in Oxford.

But after an incredibly lengthy recruiting process, Manning was won over by Tennessee as he set out to create a path of his own.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Manning threw for over 11,000 yards and 89 touchdowns during his Tennessee career, won the 1997 SEC championship and was the top pick in the 1998 NFL draft.

He went on to have one of the greatest NFL careers of all time, winning  Super Bowl championships with two different teams.

More Mount Rushmores from the College Wire Network:

Bama / Aub / Fla / LSU / Tenn. / UGA // Mich. / Mich St. / Ohio St. / Wisc. // Okla. / Texas // ND // USC