Tennessee will open its 2024 campaign against Chattanooga at Neyland Stadium on Aug. 31.

In anticipation of the season opener, VolReport is highlighting a former Vols player whose jersey number matches the amount of days until kickoff.

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With 25 days to go, Jay Graham, who was one of the most productive running backs in Tennessee program history and a two-time All-SEC selection between 1993-96, is selected.

Graham was a record-setting and All-State player at Concord High School in Concord, North Carolina before signing with the Vols in 1993.

After serving as a reserve back in his first two seasons, Graham's best season came as a junior in 1995 when he rushed for 1,438 yards and 12 touchdowns on 272 carries.

He totaled 154 rushing yards, including a 69-yard touchdown run late in the first half that sparked the Vols' offense in a 20-14 victory over No. 4 Ohio State in the Citrus Bowl to complete an 11-win season.

Graham accounted for nearly 800 yards on 179 carries during his senior season in 1996. His most memorable play that season was a game-winning 79-yard touchdown run in the final two minutes to beat Alabama, 20-13.

Graham was taken in the third round of the 1997 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens where he spent three seasons before stints with the Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers and Montreal Alouettes in the Canadian Football League.

Graham returned to Tennessee as a graduate assistant in 2005, beginning a decade-long coaching career that included assistant coaching jobs at South Carolina, Florida State, Tennessee again and Texas A&M.

Graham was the running backs and special teams coach on the Seminoles 2013 BCS national championship team. He was hired as the special team coordinator and tight ends coach at East Tennessee State in 2024.

Graham's 130.7 average yards per game and 11 game with 100 or more yards during his four seasons at Tennessee are single season bests, while his 2,609 career yards rank sixth all-time among Vols running backs.

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