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 46 days to go, Raynoch Thompson, who was an All-American linebacker at Tennessee in the late 1990s, including during its national title run in 1998, is selected.

A prep standout at St. Augustine High School in New Orleans, Thompson signed with the Vols in 1996. It took a year for him to become a contributor, but by his sophomore season in 1997, Thompson appeared in 12 games and started 11 at linebacker.

Thompson ranked fifth on the team in tackles with 67 and forced three fumbles. He capped the season with a then-career high 11 tackles and one tackle for loss against Nebraska in the Orange Bowl.

Thompson took another step forward in 1998, starring on Tennessee's defense on its way to the national championship. He had a team-high 89 tackles and was second with 10 TFLs, finishing with 11 tackles in back-to-back games against Syracuse and Florida that year.

Among Thompson's biggest plays was a fourth-and-goal stop against Auburn to keep the Tigers out of the end zone in a 17-9 victory to keep the Vols unbeaten.

In his final season at Tennessee in 1999, Thompson against paced the defense in tackles with 87 and tallied seven TFLs. He was named All-SEC for the second-straight season and was an All-American selection.

Thompson was taken as the 41st overall pick in the second round of the 2000 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals before spending five seasons with the franchise, totaling 345 tackles, 25 TFL and 7.5 sacks.

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