University of Tennessee Athletics
All-Americans
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Majors, Johnny
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Quarterback
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Halfback
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Guard
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Running Back
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Jersey Number 45
Johnny Majors
- Position:
- Tailback
- Year(s) Awarded:
- 1956
- Hometown:
- Huntland, Tenn.
- High School:
- Huntland
Bio
Johnny Majors is recognized as one of the greatest Tennessee single-wing tailbacks in school history. In 1956, Majors ran, passed and kicked the Vols to a 10-0 regular season mark and finished runner-up to Notre Dame's Paul Hornung in the Heisman Trophy race. Majors captured back-to-back SEC Player of the Honors following the 1956 campaign. He collected 1,622 yards on the ground and threw for 1,135 yards, scoring 16 touchdowns during his UT career. With his leg, he booted 83 punts for a 39.1-yard average. He also returned 36 punts for 438 yards and ran back 15 kickoffs for 344 yards. Majors returned to The Hill as head coach in 1977 after leading Pittsburgh to the national title. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1987.
Career Totals
- Pass Completions: 80
- Pass Attempts: 148
- Completion %: 54.1
- Passing Yards: 1,135
- Passing Touchdowns: 11
- Rushing Attempts: 387
- Rush Yards: 1,622
- Avg.: 4.2
- Rushing Touchdowns: 15
- Punts: 83
- Punt Yardage: 3,246
- Avg.: 39.1
- Kickoff Returns: 15
- Kickoff Return Yards: 344
- Punt Returns: 36
- Punt Return Yards: 438
- Punt Return Touchdowns: 1
- Interceptions: 2
- INT Return Yards: 36
CAREER HONORS
- 1987 College Football Hall of Fame inductee
- 1956 SEC Player of the Year
- 1956 first-team All-America
- 1955 SEC Player of the Year
- 1955 first-team All-SEC
1977-92 - HEAD COACH
- Twenty-one years after his playing days were over, Majors came marching home to rebuild Tennessee's football fortunes
- He did just that as he went 116-62-6 as head coach at Tennessee, with three conference championships (1985, 1989 and 1990) and 12 bowl appearances
- Majors produced 15 All-America selections during his 15 season on Rocky Top
- 1985 SEC Coach of the Year
- Coached legendary UT gridiron stars such as Reggie White, Willie Gault, Harry Galbreath and Dale Carter
1956 - SENIOR
- Earned first-team All-America honors and first-team All-SEC recognition
- Finished runner-up to Paul Hornung for the Heisman Trophy
- Was named the SEC Player of the Year for the second-straight season, becoming the first and only Vol to win the award twice
- Led the Vols to a 10-1 record, an appearance in the Sugar Bowl and a final national ranking of No. 2
- Tied his career-high in completions with 36 on 59 passing attempts, setting a career-best 61.0 completion percentage
- Tossed five touchdown passes and set a career-high with 552 passing yards
- Gained 549 yards on the ground on 108 rushing attempts for an average of 5.1 yards per carry
- Rushed for a career-high seven touchdowns
- Punted 26 times for 1,119 yards and a career-best average of 43.0 yards per punt
- Returned six kickoffs for 135 yards and 10 punts for 86 yards
1955 - JUNIOR
- Under first-year head coach Bowden Wyatt, Majors had a breakout season, leading to SEC Player of the Year honors and being selected first-team All-SEC by the Associated Press and the UPI
- The first Vol since Bob Foxx in 1939 to win SEC Player of the Year
- Set a career-high in pass completions (36) and attempts (65), throwing for 476 yards and five touchdowns
- Completed 55.4 percent of his passes
- Set more career-highs for rush attempts with 183 and rushing yards at 657
- He crossed the goal line on the ground six times in 1956
- Boomed 39 punts for 1,509 yards setting career bests in both categories
- Returned 21 punts for 234 yards, while gaining 128 yards on five kickoff returns
- Intercepted one pass on the year
1954 - SOPHOMORE
- Made an instant impact in his first season
- Completed 8-of-24 pass attempts for 107 yards and a touchdown
- Carried the ball 96 times, gaining 416 yards, while finding the end zone on the ground twice
- Punted the ball 18 times for 619 yards, averaging 34.4 yards per punt
- Returned four kickoffs for 81 yards and five punts for 118 yards, returning one punt for a touchdown
- Snagged an INT, returning it 36 yards
1953 - FRESHMAN
- On the 1953 JV squad
PERSONAL
- Younger brothers Bill and Bobby followed him in playing at Tennessee
FB | Joey Aguilar & Mike Matthews Postgame at Mississippi State (9.27.25)
Sunday, September 28
FB | Josh Heupel Postgame Press Conference vs. Mississippi State (9.27.25)
Saturday, September 27
FB | Cinematic Recap vs. UAB (9.20.25)
Wednesday, September 24
FB | Braylon Staley Media Availability (9.23.25)
Tuesday, September 23
