3d ago football Edit

Tennessee Football Jersey Countdown: No. 59, Mark Hovanic

Mark Hovanic wore No. 59 for Tennessee. (University of Tennessee Athletics)

Noah Taylor • VolReport

Managing Editor

Noah is a graduate of the UT College of Journalism & Electronic Media and has covered Tennessee football since 2019. He joined Rivals in 2022.

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 59 days to go, Mark Hovanic, who starred at defensive tackle for the Vols and finished among one of the top sack leaders in program history, is selected.

Hovanic arrived at Tennessee by way of York High School in Yorktown, Virginia in 1984, just in time for a successful stretch for the Vols.

Hovanic was a sophomore contributor on Tennessee’s 1985 team that toppled Bo Jackson and No. 1 Auburn early that season before going on to win the SEC and beat Miami, 35-7 in the Sugar Bowl.

By the end of his college career, Hovanic had accounted for 19 sacks—which ranked top-ten all-time at Tennessee—and 87 total tackles. He was named First Team All-SEC in 1987.

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