University of Tennessee Athletics
All-Americans
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Little, Leonard
Linebacker
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Jersey Number 1
Leonard Little
- Position:
- Linebacker
- Year(s) Awarded:
- 1997
- Hometown:
- Asheville, N.C.
- High School:
- Asheville
Bio
Splitting time at middle linebacker and defensive end, Leonard Little earned a reputation for his hard hits and quarterback sacks. Little earned All-America status his senior year in 1997 and was named the Associated Press' SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Year. He had a team-leading 87 tackles and collected 8.5 quarterback sacks in leading the Vols to the 1997 SEC championship. He finished his career ranked second to Reggie White on UT's all-time sack list with 28, which included 11 his sophomore year. Little had 10 multi-sack games in his three-year career. He also placed second on the career list of quarterback pressures with 42.
Career Totals
- Games Played: 30
- Tackles: 182
- Tackles-For-Loss: 25
- Forced Fumbles: 8
- Sacks: 28
- Pass Breakups: 10
CAREER HONORS
- 1997 first-team All-America
- 1997 first-team All-SEC
- 1996 first team All-SEC
- 1995 second-team All-SEC
1997 - SENIOR
- Named first-team All-America and earned his second-straight first-team All-SEC accolades
- Returned from injury to lead the Vols in tackles with 87, forcing two fumbles, breaking up five passes and recording 8.5 sacks and six TFLs
- Made 21.5 big plays, tied for the most on the defensive side of the ball, including 13 QB pressures
- Named a team captain alongside Peyton Manning
1996 - JUNIOR
- A stalwart at defensive end, Little was on an All-America pace until a knee injury suffered at South Carolina knocked him out of the final four games and the Florida Citrus Bowl
- He still made Football News All-SEC and finished with 33 tackles
- Caused four fumbles and led the sack brigade with 8.5
- Registered five tackles for loss and blocked a field goal attempt
- Made 18.5 big plays and had 11 QB pressures
- Ended the season ranked fifth for school career sacks with 19.5
- Totaled three tackles, a focred fumble and four QB hurries against UCLA
- Had eight tackles, a TFL and a sack versus Florida
- Earned SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors after a career-high three sacks and two forced fumbles in a game against Ole Miss
- Made five tackles with two sacks abd a forced fumble to go with a blocked field goal against Alabama
- Had seven tackles, including a pair behind the line, and had 2.5 sacks before injury felled him in the fourth quarter of the South Carolina game
1995 - SOPHOMORE
- Named second-team AP All-SEC
- Started 11 of 12 games at defensive end
- Led the Vols with 11 sacks among his 33 big plays, a total that included 14 TFLs
- Instrumental in setting the then UT single-season sack record at 42
- Batted down five passes
- Tackle total was 62, ranking fourth among Vols
- His blocked field goal in the South Carolina game was returned 90 yards for a touchdown and turned momentum Tennessee's way
- Stuffed Kentucky and Vanderbilt each with four TFLs
- Recorded a pair of sacks each against Oklahoma State, Arkansas, South Carolina and Kentucky
- Caused two fumbles against Alabama
- A sack and a TFL were included among his accomplishments in the Florida Citrus Bowl
1994 - JUNIOR COLLEGE (COFFEYVILLE COMMUNITY COLLEGE)
- First-team All-Conference and honorable mention All-America at linebacker
- Collected 88 tackles and one INT in seven gamess
- Credited with two blocked punts and two blocked extra points
HIGH SCHOOL
- Second-team USA Today All-America
- Named to variety of recruiting service All-Americas as a linebacker
- Earned All-State honors as a junior and senior
- Three-year starter on both sides of the ball, as a wide receiver and linebacker
- Made 67 solo tackles, 70 assists, eight sacks and 20 TFLs as a senior
- Career totals included 256 tackles
- Led his team in receiving with 35 catches and eight touchdowns
PERSONAL
- Full name: Leonard Antonio Little
- Born: Oct. 19, 1974
FB | Joshua Josephs Media Availability (9.16.25)
Tuesday, September 16
FB | Star Thomas Media Availability (9.16.25)
Tuesday, September 16
FB | Edrees Farooq Media Availability (9.16.25)
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FB | William Inge Press Conference (9.16.25)
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