61 days until it is football time in Tennessee

Tennessee will kick off its 2024 football season in 61 days.

The Vols will open its upcoming campaign on Aug. 31 against Chattanooga at Neyland Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 12:45 p.m. EDT and SEC Network will televise the contest.

2024 will be the fourth season for Tennessee under head coach Josh Heupel. In his first three seasons, Heupel is 27-12 and guided the Vols to three bowl games.

The Vols finished 9-4 (4-4 SEC) last season.

With 61 days remaining until the start of the 2024 football season, Vols Wire looks back at Tennessee student-athletes who wore No. 61.

The number is retired in honor of Willis Tucker. Tucker, who was the first player to wear the number at Tennessee, was killed in World War II in 1944. He was a graduate of Knoxville High School and competed in both football and track at Tennessee.

All-time players to wear No. 61 at Tennessee:

Willis Tucker (1939-40)

Horace Moore (1944)

Hal Bridges (1955-56)

Wayne Grubb (1957-60)

Steve Coleman (1961)

Carl Ellis (1962-63)

Bobby Morel (1964-66)

Kelley Lacoste (1967)

Clifton Stewart (1968)

Chad Simonton (1969-1970)

Steve Mitchell (1971-73)

Chris Webster (1974)

Scott Ferrar (1974)

Ralph Bullard (1975)

Brent Akin (1977)

Chris Bolton (1979-80)

Gordon Roberts (1985)

*Source: 2023 Tennessee Football Media Guide