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.

TALK ABOUT IT IN THE ROCKY TOP FORUM

With 40 days to go, Bill Bates, who was an All-SEC safety at Tennessee, appearing in 43 games and totaling 255 tackles between 1979-82, is selected.

A Knoxville native, Bates was a star player at Farragut High School for Ken Sparks, who later became five-time NAIA national champion-winning head coach at nearby Carson-Newman. Bates made an immediate impact for the Vols as a freshman in 1979.

In his first season at Tennessee, Bates recorded 55 tackles, three sacks, an interception and two fumble recoveries. He turned in an impressive performance against No. 1 Alabama that year, registering eight tackles and a sack while recovering two fumbles in a 27-17 loss to the eventual national champion Crimson Tide.

Bates had an even more productive season as a junior in 1981, tallying 71 tackles while nabbing a team-high four interceptions on his way to a Second Team All-SEC selection. His best season as a hitter came in 1982 when he made a career-high 86 tackles and three takeaways for more All-SEC recognition.

Bates stellar college career didn't immediately garner attention from professional teams.

He went undrafted in the 1983 NFL Draft, but was selected by the New Jersey Generals in the USFL Draft. Bates decided to take his chances in the NFL, ultimately signing with the Dallas Cowboys as an undfrafted free agent. It was a decision that paid off for both him and the franchise.

Bates, who made the Pro Football Writer's Association All-Rookie Team in 1983 and a Pro Bowl selection in 1984, was a part of three Super Bowl-winning teams. Cowboys coach Tom Landry called Bates one of the "hardest hitters I ever saw."

–––––

– TALK ABOUT IT IN THE ROCKY TOP FORUM.

– ENJOY VOLREPORT WITH A PREMIUM SUBSCRIPTION.

– SUBSCRIBE TO THE VOLREPORT YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

– FOLLOW VOLREPORT ON TWITTER: @TennesseeRivals, @ByNoahTaylor, @RyanTSylvia, @Dale_Dowden, @ShayneP_Media.

–––––