University of Tennessee Athletics
Reggie White
August 15, 2003 | Football
Elected 2002
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In his four years with the Vols, Reggie White collected a school-record 32 sacks in establishing himself as the most prolific pass rusher in Tennessee history.
Known as the "Minister of Defense," White earned continuous praise. After collecting 146 tackles his first two years, the ordained Baptist minister began turning heads.
The 1983 team captain, White drew little publicity until the sixth game of his senior year. By then, his domination was evident. He collected 100 tackles on the season, 72 of them unassisted, and set the school-record with 15 sacks for the year. He had a sack in every game but two and dropped the quarterback four times against The Citadel, another school record.
White's senior campaign earned him All-SEC and consensus All-America honors. The SEC named him Player of the Year, making him the first Vol since his coach, Johnny Majors, was given the award in 1956. White was the Atlanta Touchdown Club's Player of the Year. The Birmingham Touchdown Club named him Most Outstanding Lineman and the Birmingham Monday Morning Quarterback Club awarded him Most Outstanding Senior.
White moved to defensive end in the NFL and became one of the best pass rushers in league history. After a stint with the USFL's Memphis Showboats in 1984-85, he played for the Philadelphia Eagles (1985-92), Green Bay Packers (1993-98) and Carolina Panthers (2000). He was NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1987 and led the Packers to a win in the 1996 Super Bowl. White retired as the NFL's all-time sack leader with 198.
He and Doug Atkins are the only Tennessee players to ever be voted into both the College Football Hall of Fame and the Professional Football Hall of Fame (2006).
