University of Tennessee Athletics
Shuler Inducted Into Western North Carolina Sports Hall
May 06, 2002 | Football
May 6, 2002
Former Tennessee quarterback Heath Shuler was inducted into the Western North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. The ceremonies took place in Asheville at the Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa as May 5 as part of the 44th annual WNC Sports Awards Banquet.
A Bryson City, N.C., native, Shuler set numerous passing records for Tennessee and was the 1993 Southeastern Conference Player of the Year and Heisman Trophy runner-up. Forgoing his senior season with the Vols, Shuler was the third overall pick of the 1994 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins and played four seasons professionally before a foot injury forced his retirement.
He returned to Knoxville following his playing days to open Heath Shuler Realty. This past December, Shuler completed his UT degree in psychology.
"His successes on the field are in the records books -- the touchdown passes, the brilliant runs, the great wins, the exciting games," UT head coach Phillip Fulmer said. "He brought our program to another level with his leadership, determined play, character and work ethic. He also helped a young head football coach get on his feet."
Shuler, 30, set five school records with the Vols and finished his 1991-93 career with 4,088 yards passing and 36 touchdowns. This after leading Swain High School to three straight 1-A state football titles while throwing for 7,684 yards and 74 touchdowns from 1988-90. He also ran for 2,530 yards and 30 additional TDs.
Along with his wife, Nikol, and brother, Benjie, Shuler created in October the Shuler Family Athletic Scholarship Endowment for the UT Athletics Department. The $125,000 commitment is earmarked for a scholarship to be awarded annually to a Volunteer student-athlete from Shuler's home state of North Carolina.
"He's certainly very deserving," said Boyce Deitz, Shuler's head football coach at Swain High School. "The thing is, Heath's a better person than he was a football player, and he was a great player."
