Tag: Willie Gault

26 days until it is football time in Tennessee

Countdown to the 2023 season: 26 days until it is football time in Tennessee

Tennessee will kick off its 2023 football season in 26 days.

Wide receiver Willie Gault played for Tennessee from 1979-82 and wore jersey No. 26.

Gault appeared in 42 games for the Vols, recording 89 receptions, 1,482 receiving yards, 10 receiving touchdowns, 1,854 kickoff return yards, four kickoff return touchdowns, 659 punt return yards and one punt return touchdown.

He earned All-America and All-SEC honors in 1982.

Gault also was a two-time NCAA individual track and field champion and a six-time SEC individual track and field champion.

The Vols will kick off its 2023 season Sept. 2 versus Virginia at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. Kickoff is slated for noon EDT and ABC will televise the contest.

Tennessee’s home schedule has contests against Austin Peay, UTSA, South Carolina, Texas A&M, UConn, Georgia and Vanderbilt.

The Vols’ road schedule features games at Alabama, Florida,Kentucky and Missouri.

The 2023 season will be Tennessee’s third under head coach Josh Heupel.

Tennessee’s 2023 football schedule

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Josh Heupel, two VFLs on 2024 College Football Hall of Fame ballot

Josh Heupel and two VFLs are on the 2024 College Football Hall of Fame ballot.

Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel will appear on the 2024 College Football Hall of Fame ballot.

Heupel is one of three athletes or coaches with ties to the Vols that will appear on the ballot, which was unveiled Monday.

Heupel is on the ballot as a player. He played quarterback at Oklahoma and was a consensus All-America standout.

In two seasons as the Sooners’ quarterback, Heupel passed for 7,066 yards and 50 touchdowns. He won the 2000 BCS national championship.

Two former Tennessee wide receivers Willie Gault and Larry Seivers are also on the ballot.

Gault was a consensus All-American in 1982, recording 82 receptions, 1,482 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Gault recorded three kickoff returns for touchdowns in 1980.

Seivers was a two-time consensus All-American in 1975-76. He left Tennessee as the all-time leading receiver with 117 receptions and 1,924 yards.

Tennessee football: Vols in the College Football Hall of Fame

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Tennessee’s all-time wide receivers selected in first round of NFL draft

A look at Tennessee’s all-time wide receivers selected in the first round of the NFL draft.

The 2023 NFL draft will take place April 27-29 in the plaza outside of Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri.

Former Tennessee wide receiver Jalin Hyatt is receiving a first-round projection ahead of the draft. Hyatt won Tennessee’s first Biletnikoff Award last season.

Hyatt would be the first Tennessee wide receiver drafted in the first round since 2013. He would also be the 12th Vols’ wide receiver drafted in the first round.

PHOTOS: Tennessee’s Wide Receiver U through the years

Ahead of the 2023 NFL draft, Vols Wire looks at Tennessee’s 11 wide receivers who were selected in the first round. The Vols’ 11 wide receivers selected in the first round are listed below.

Three former Vols on 2021 College Football Hall of Fame ballot

2021 College Football Hall of Fame ballot.

IRVING — The National Football Foundation and the College Hall of Fame announced names on the 2021 College Football Hall of Fame ballot.

The ballot includes 78 players and seven coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision and 99 players and 33 coaches from the divisional ranks. The entire ballot can be viewed here.

Three former Vols are also listed on the 2021 ballot; Willie Gault, Bobby Majors and Al Wilson.

They are listed below with each NFF bio.

Willie Gault, Tennessee-Wide Receiver-1982 First Team All-American…Led Vols to three bowl berths…Set six conference and 12 school punt / kickoff return records…Tied NCAA record for most touchdowns by kick return in a single season (3) in 1980.

Bobby Majors, Tennessee-Defensive Back/Punter-1971 unanimous First Team All-American who led Vols to wins in 1971 Sugar Bowl and 1972 Liberty Bowl… Two-time First Team All-SEC selections still holds conference and school record with 10 INTs in 1971…Set Tennessee records for career punt returns (117) and career punt return yardage (1,163).

Al Wilson, Tennessee-Linebacker-1998 consensus First Team All-American who led the Vols to the inaugural BCS national title in 1998…Helped Tennessee to four postseason berths and four AP top 10 finishes…Two-time All-SEC performer led Vols to consecutive SEC titles (1997, 1998) and only lost three conference games in career.