Tennessee football: 5 most underrated players in Tennessee Volunteers history

The five most underrated players in Tennessee football history.

Yes, there are underrated superstars in the history of the Tennessee football program.

Despite being one of the blue-bloods in college football, the Tennessee Volunteers have had their fair share of underrated greats just like the rest of the best programs in the country. Though Tennessee has been down for over a decade, one has to believe they are on their way back up under third-year head coach Jeremy Pruitt. He’s recruiting at a tremendously high level.

Tennessee is forcing itself back into the conversation of being one of the three best teams in the SEC East, as the Vols should be. They have a shot at beating the Florida Gators at home this season in early September. While Tennessee is still a year or so away from contending for a trip to Atlanta, winning nine or 10 games annually feels like a reachable goal this year if you factor in the bowl game. For that to happen, Tennessee will need some under-the-radar players to step up.

Historically, Tennessee is one of the best programs in college football to never have a Heisman Trophy winner. Quarterback Peyton Manning came close in 1997, but it went to defensive back Charles Woodson of the Michigan Wolverines instead. In any other year, Manning would have taken the Heisman back to Knoxville. This is no slight on Woodson, as he’s a legendary player.

So what we’re going to do today is look at players who are somewhat underrated in the history of Tennessee football. Guys like Manning have cast a big shadow over the greatness of others. There may have been players who were excellent during a down period for the programs. Regardless, Tennessee is usually chock full of talent, no matter who is leading the Vols into battle.

Here are the five most underrated players in Tennessee football history.

Dale Carter was a shutdown corner during his time with the Tennessee Vols.

Dale Carter is best remembered for being an electrifying defensive back in the 1990s for the Kansas City Chiefs. He made four straight Pro Bowls and two All-Pro teams during his six years in Kansas City. However, his professional career was marred by substance abuse issues, as he was never the same player once he went to the Denver Broncos in 1999.

But before he was a first-round pick by Kansas City and the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1992, Carter was a consensus All-American for the Vols in 1991. Carter played two years for the late Johnny Majors in the early 1990s, where he starred as an incredibly versatile playmaker in the back-end of his defense, as well as in the return game.

Carter had 102 total tackles in two years with Tennessee, as well as nine interceptions and well over 1,600 yards as a kickoff and punt returner. For about an eight-year window from 1990 to 1997, Carter was one of the best defensive backs at any level. He was a consistently strong player in the Tennessee and Kansas City backfield before things devolved his playing career.

In the years since he hung up the spikes, Carter has seen two of his family members carve out excellent college careers in the SEC. His son Nigel Warrior played for the Vols, while his nephew J.R. Reed played for the Georgia Bulldogs. Along with former Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jake Reed, the NFL connection for these four Covington, Georgia family members is a strong one.