KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee football legend Al Wilson will serve as the honorary captain for the Volunteers’ season opener in the Aflac Kickoff Game against Syracuse on Saturday afternoon in Atlanta.
Widely considered one of the greatest players in program history, Wilson was the captain and leader of the defense for UT’s 1998 undefeated national championship team.
The Jackson, Tennessee, native, was a two-time first team All-SEC selection and earned first team All-America honors in 1998 after compiling 77 total tackles, six tackles for loss, four sacks and a team-leading five forced fumbles despite missing three games due to injury.
Wilson was selected with the 31st pick of the 1999 NFL Draft and went on to have an exceptional pro career with the Denver Broncos, making five Pro Bowl appearances while garnering NFL All-Pro recognition in 2005 and 2006. Wilson retired from the NFL in 2008 after an eight-year career and was later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2021.
One of Wilson’s most memorable performances came in the 1998 season opener at No. 17 Syracuse when he led Tennessee with 13 tackles to go along with a sack and a forced fumble. The Vols pulled out a thrilling 34-33 road victory to begin their run to a national title.
In recognition of the Aflac Kickoff Game’s “Kickoff for a Cause” mission and leading into September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, each honorary captain will be accompanied by a current or former Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta patient from the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, who is a fan of the teams playing in this year’s game.
Kickoff for Saturday’s contest at Mercedes-Benz Stadium is slated for noon (ET) on ABC.
