University of Tennessee Athletics
LEGENDS OF TENNESSEE FOR KENTUCKY GAME
November 23, 2006 | Football
Nov. 23, 2006
Standouts on both sides of the ball will return to their collegiate stomping grounds on Saturday.
A "Little Man" who left big footprints on the turf at Neyland Stadium and a big defensive tackle who created even bigger match-up problems for opposing offenses will be back in Knoxville as the Vols host Kentucky in the regular-season finale (Kickoff: 12:30, TV: Lincoln Financial).
Running back James Stewart and defensive tackle Mark Hovanic will be back at Rocky Top this weekend as they are honored as the last two Legends of Tennessee of the season.
James Stewart, RB (1991-94)
The Morristown native left Tennessee as the most productive rusher in school history, carrying for 2,890 yards during his career in Orange and White and rushing for 35 touchdowns.
Now second in the school record books, Stewart helped the Vols go 36-12 during his four-year career and led UT to wins in the Holiday Bowl and a 45-23 win over Virginia Tech in the Gator Bowl to end his collegiate career.
Stewart rushed for at least 900 yards twice in four seasons at UT, including a 1,028-yard season in 1994 for the "Little Man."
He posted 10 100-yard rushing days before the Jacksonville Jaguars drafted Stewart in the first round of the 1995 NFL Draft. Stewart played eight seasons in the NFL with two teams, finishing his career with Detroit after piling up 5,841 yard and 48 touchdowns in the league.
Mark Hovanic, DT (1984-87)
The 6-3, 249-pound defensive tackle was one of the most disruptive linemen in school history. Hovanic recorded 19 sacks during his four-year career at UT and left campus ranked-second all-time in bringing down the quarterback.
The Yorktown, Va., native helped the Vols to a 33-11-4 record, including three straight bowl victories to close out his career. With Hovanic terrorizing quarterbacks, the Vols claimed wins in the Peach Bowl, the Liberty Bowl and the Sugar Bowl.
Hovanic sacked Miami quarterback Vinny Testaverde, the 1986 Heisman Trophy winner, and forced a fumble in the SEC champions' 35-7 romp over the Hurricanes.
Hovanic was a first-team All-SEC selection after his senior season despite missing the first three games of the season due to injury. He still finished with five sacks and added a pair of passes broken up during his shortened campaign.
