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 61 days to go, Willis Tucker, who was a two-sport athlete at Tennessee in 1939-40, is selected.

A Knoxville native, Tucker arrived at Tennessee in 1939, splitting time between football and track. He was a center under General Robert Neyland’s and helped the Vols to a 10-1 record and Sugar Bowl berth in 1940.

Tucker enlisted in the U.S. Army following the United States’ involvement in World War II. He was assigned to B Company, 12th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division in the European Theater.

Willis was killed in action in the Hürtgen Forest in Germany on Nov. 28, 1944.

Willis was one of four former Tennessee players killed during WWII, alongside Clyde “Ig” Fuson, Bill Nowling and Rudy Klarer. Their jersey numbers were retired in 2006.

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