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 58 days to go, Todd Kelly, who was an All-American and All-SEC defensive end for Tennessee in the early 1990s, is selected.

Kelly was initially committed to South Carolina, but ultimately signed with Tennessee out of Bethel High School in Hampton, Virginia in 1989.

He appeared in eight games as a backup during his freshman season. The following year, Kelly totaled 21 tackles and a team-high five sacks during the Vols’ SEC title and Sugar Bowl run in 1990.

Kelly’s role on Tennessee’s defensive front continued to grow as a junior in 1991. He accounted for 23 tackles and 5.5 sacks that season, then registered 38 tackles, 11 sacks and 10 tackles for loss in 1992.

Kelly was named First Team All-American and All-SEC by the end of his senior season.

In four seasons at Tennessee, Kelly had 88 totaled tackles, 22.5 sacks, 14 TFLs and two forced fumbles.

Kelly was selected as the 27th pick in the first round of the 1993 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers, where he spent two seasons.

Kelly had another two-year stint with the Cincinnati Bengals before ending his pro career with the Atlanta Falcons in 1996.

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