A number of former Vols among list of those who received the State of Tennessee's highest sports honor on Saturday night

On the gridiron, Kelly led the Vols to an SEC championship in 1990 and a Sugar Bowl win over Virginia, the program's last win in the Big Easy. He left Knoxville as the program leader in passing yards and touchdowns. 

Grant anchored the back end of the 1998 national championship team's defense his senior season while earning First Team All-American honors.  He finished a 12-year career with six tackles in a Super Bowl XLVI victory for the Giants over the Patriots in his final game.

Mathews served as the Vols' running backs coach before becoming Tennessee's defensive coordinator under Johnny Majors during the 1980's, coaching greats like Reggie Cobb, Johnnie Jones, and others. 

Slay, Holdsclaw, and Catchings left an undeniable mark on the hardwood. Holdsclaw helped Tennessee win three straight national titles, the latter with Catchings, and the duo won a slew of individual awards, both from the conference and nationally.  Slay won the SEC Player of the Year award in 2003, becoming the first Vol since 1987 to bring home the honor. Rick Barnes also earned the Pat Summitt Lifetime Achievement Award from the Hall as well. 

Woodruff enters his ninth season as the head of Tennessee's tennis team, and just earned an extension through 2030, which was announced this week. He played at Tennessee from 1991-93 before going onto a professional career.  He led the Vols to an SEC title in 2021 and the national semifinals in 2021 and 2022.