Top 10 Players in Tennessee Football History – No. 9

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Travis Henry

Running back, 1997-2000

A product of Frostproof, Florida, Travis Henry elected to come north to Rocky Top and play for Phillip Fulmer and the Volunteers. Nicknamed “Cheese”, Henry was a player during arguably one of the best periods for Tennessee football ever.

For nearly his entire career, Henry was the “other” running back in the backfield. For the first three years of his career, he was joined in the backfield by fellow Tennessee great Jamal Lewis. Henry’s final two seasons also included Travis Stephens in the backfield.

Taking the fact that Henry was always paired with another outstanding running back makes his consistency and accomplishments that much more impressive.

During the 1998 season, starting running back Jamal Lewis went down for the year with an injury. The injury seemed to doom the Vols’ national title aspirations. However, Henry, a sophomore at the time, stepped in and excelled. He rushed for 916 yards and eight touchdowns that year and was a major factor in Tennessee winning its first national championship since 1967.

The 1998 season also provided Henry with one of his signature moments on Rocky Top. Tennessee was nearly upset and derailed by Arkansas that year, but a dominating performance by Henry kept the Vols in it. Henry then scored the game-winning touchdown after the “Hand of God” fumble by Clint Stoerner.

From that point on, Henry was a star running back. Although he shared the backfield with Lewis his junior season, and with Stephens his senior season, Henry was the most consistent and primary option.

Henry really showed what he brought to the table his senior season, when he became the undoubted No. 1 in the backfield. He made the Vols more competitive than many people expected them to be that year. He even carried them to victory at times single-handedly. He rushed for 1,314 yards and 11 touchdowns that season.

Henry was drafted in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills. He played seven seasons for three teams (Buffalo Bills, Tennessee Titans, and Denver Broncos). He rushed for 6,086 yards, had 951 receiving yards, and 40 touchdowns in his NFL career.

Henry was selected as first team All-SEC in his senior season. He holds the Tennessee record for rushing yards (3,078), carries (556), and 100-yard games (14).

Featured image by the Tennessee Journalist

Edited by Cody McClure

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