SEC Football history: 50 best players of all time
By Brad Weiss
When it comes to the history of college football, no conference has produced more talent than SEC Football. The home of numerous Heisman Trophy winners and National Champions, the SEC has turned into an absolute powerhouse conference, led by the likes of Alabama, LSU, and Auburn to name a few.
In this piece, we take a look at the top-50 players in the history of the program, a list that was not only challenging to come up with but downright fun. From recent stars to players who helped make the conference what it is, the list is a walk down memory lane.
DT. Volunteers . John Henderson. 50. player. 839.
50. Best SEC football players of all time: John Henderson, Tennessee football
We kick off our top-50 players in SEC history with a man affectionately referred to as “Big Hen,” John Henderson. Playing defensive tackle for the University of Tennessee from 1998 through 2001, Henderson dominated SEC opponents, becoming a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks.
Though an ankle injury would hinder him during his senior season, Henderson was still named an All-American, his second straight season earning that honor. The winner of the Outland Trophy during the 2000 college football season, Henderson had 12 sacks that season, as he was also named the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year.
Big John would end up being drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2001 NFL Draft, playing ten seasons in the league, and being named a Pro Bowler twice. However, it was his exploits during his time with the Volunteers that land him on our list, a career that saw him finish fifth in school history with 20.5 sacks.