TENNESSEE VOLS FOOTBALL: Henderson honored as SEC legend

Two-time first-team All-American Tennessee VFL John Henderson has been selected to the 2026 SEC Football Legends class, an assemblage of former football standouts who will be honored at events surrounding the SEC Football Championship Game in Atlanta in December.

Henderson and the class will be honored at the 2026 SEC Football "Weekend of Champions" Dec. 4-5 in Atlanta, highlighted by the annual SEC Legends Celebration on Friday, Dec. 4 at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.  The group will also be recognized prior to the SEC Football Championship Game, which will be held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 5.

Last December, Henderson was formally inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, a crowing achievement on an illustrious career.

Henderson claimed the 2000 Outland Trophy as the best interior lineman in the nation while finishing as a finalist for the Nagurski Trophy as the nation's best defensive player the same year. A two-time first team All-American and All-SEC selection from 2000-01, Henderson was also named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 2000. He was a finalist for the Outland Trophy again in 2001.

Henderson guided Tennessee to the 2001 SEC East title and an overall record of 28-9 during his career. The Volunteers made three consecutive bowls with appearances in the 2000 Fiesta and 2001 Cotton and a win in the 2002 Citrus Bowl, where he earned outstanding defensive player honors. His impact was instrumental in Tennessee finishing inside the Top 10 in 1999 and reaching No. 4 in the final polls in 2001.

Henderson played a pivotal role in 2000 on a defense that set a school record for the fewest rushing yards allowed (817). His 12 sacks in 2000 rank fourth all-time for a single season in program history, while his 21 tackles for loss that year ranked third.

Over his career, he amassed 162 tackles, 38.5 tackles for loss, 20.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, and seven pass breakups, ranking among the program's all-time greats.

Selected with the No. 9 overall pick in the first round of the 2002 NFL Draft by Jacksonville, Henderson played for the Jaguars from 2002-09 and the Raiders from 2010-11, earning two Pro Bowl selections and second team All-Pro honors in 2006.

2026 SEC Football Legends

Alabama – Nick Saban, Head Coach, 2007-23Arkansas – Felix Jones, Running Back, 2005-07Auburn – Benji Roland, Noseguard, 1985-88Florida – Chris Doering, Wide Receiver, 1991-95Georgia – Mark Richt, Head Coach, 2001-15Kentucky – Randall Cobb, Wide Receiver, 2008-10LSU – Patrick Peterson, Cornerback, 2008-10Ole Miss – Tony Bennett, Linebacker, 1986-89Mississippi State – Darius Slay, Cornerback, 2011-12Missouri – Sean Weatherspoon, Linebacker, 2006-09Oklahoma – Billy Sims, Running Back, 1975-79South Carolina – Sidney Rice, Wide Receiver, 2005-06Tennessee – John Henderson, Defensive Tackle, 1999-2001Texas – Ricky Williams, Running Back, 1995-98Texas A&M – Sam Adams, Defensive Line, 1991-93Vanderbilt – Casey Hayward, Cornerback, 2008-11

Tennessee All-Time SEC Football Legends

1994 – Bob Johnson1995 – Doug Atkins1996 – Condredge Holloway1997 – John Michels1998 – Richmond Flowers1999 – Steve Kiner2000 – Steve DeLong2001 – Stanley Morgan2002 – Johnny Majors2003 – Reggie White2004 – Frank Emanuel2005 – Larry Seivers2006 – Chip Kell2007 – Willie Gault2008 – Doug Dickey2009 – Heath Shuler2010 – Al Wilson2011 – Bobby Majors2012 – Peerless Price2013 – Inky Johnson2014 – Todd Kelly2015 – Chuck Smith2016 – Deon Grant2017 – Chad Clifton2018 – Phillip Fulmer2019 – Darwin Walker2020 – no Legends class (COVID-19 season)2021 – no Legends class 2022 – Peyton Manning2023 – Joey Kent2024 - Eric Berry 2025 - Kevin Burnett 2026 – John Henderson