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 number for the Volunteers.
No. 52
The number goes back in UT football history to 1937. It was first worn by William Leffler.
Leffler, a guard for the Vols, sported the number for just one season.
It was later worn by Jackie Walker. Walker, a local product from Knoxville’s Fulton High School, wore No. 52 for three seasons between 1969-71. He was a two-time All-America standout on Rocky Top.
He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the sixth round but never played professional football as he was cut in training camp. He died in 2002.
All-time players to wear No. 52 for Tennessee:
William Leffler (1937)
Hodges “Burr” West (1938-40)
Eugene Field (1941)
Joe Steffy (1944)
Howard O’Neal (1946)
Dennis Babb (1949)
Lawrence Crowson (1951-52)
Ray Brann (1956-58)
Warren Blankenship (1959-61)
Joe DeMelfi (1962)
Rod Hanklewroad (1964-66)
Todd Denny (1967)
Larry Johnston (1968)
Jackie Walker (1969-71)
Paul Johnson (1973-75)
Lyonel Stewart (1976-78)
Jack Jolley (1979-80)
Raleigh McKenzie (1982-84)
Milton Gordon (1986)
Tony Clemmons (1988-89)
Craig Martin (1990-91)
Mark Holland (1993-94)
Mark Ingram (1995-96)
Kevin Gregory (1997)
Casey Coleman (1998-99)
Brian Ward (2002)
Rob Smith (2003-05)
Victor Thomas (2007-10)
Christian Harris (2011-13)
Joe Henderson (2014)
Andrew Butcher (2015-16)
Elijah Medford (2015-18)
Maurese Smith (2017-18)
Bryan Aiken (2019)
Matthew Salansky (2019)
*Source: 2019 Tennessee Football Media Guide