Willie Gault was in a class of his own, and his performances spoke for themselves. The speedy receiver earned All-America honors his senior season after hauling in 50 receptions for 668 yards.

Gault, also a prolific hurdler and sprinter for Tennessee, finished his career with the Vols holding 12 school records in football and three in track and field.

Half of his football records were SEC records as well. He had more total yards in kickoff returns (1,854) than in receiving (1,482) and returned five kickoffs for touchdowns in his career. Gault averaged 16.4 yards each time he touched the football. He covered 2,513 total yards in returns.

CAREER HONORS

• 1982 All-America
• 1982 All-SEC
• 11-time Track & Field All-America
• Two-time NCAA Individual Champion (track & field)
• Six-time SEC Individual Champion (track & field)

1982 - SENIOR

• Led the Vols with 50 receptions for 668 yards and four touchdowns his senior season
• Named a first team All-American by the Newspaper Enterprise Association and Football Writers Association of America
• Also tabbed All-Southeastern Conference by the Associated Press and United Press International
• Finished the season as Tennessee's all-time career leader with 2,513 total return yards, 1,854 kickoff return yards and four kickoff return touchdowns
• His 4,035 all-purpose yards are the second-most in school history
• Caught a pair of touchdown passes against Auburn, including a season-long 78-yard score
• Returned a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown in the Vols' 24-24 tie against LSU
• Had a 52-yard touchdown catch in Tennessee's 35-28 triumph over Alabama, helping the Vols break an 11-year losing streak to the Tide
• Also scored touchdowns against Memphis State and against Iowa in the Peach Bowl

1981 - JUNIOR

• In 11 games, hauled in 22 receptions for 479 yards to yield a career-best 21.8 yards-per-catch average
• Added to his reputation as a dangerous return man, with 28 kickoff returns for 606 yards and 31 punt returns for 381 yards
• Returned a punt 66 yards for a touchdown in Tennessee's 28-20 win over Ole Miss
• Had 268 all-purpose yards against Vanderbilt (217 receiving, 51 punt return), which currently stands as the fifth-most in Tennessee history
• Caught a 75-yard touchdown pass in the Vols' loss to Alabama
• In Tennessee's 28-21 win over Wisconsin in the Garden State Bowl, returned a kickoff 87 yards for the Vols' first touchdown of the game

1980 - SOPHOMORE

• Set the Tennessee single season record with three kickoff return touchdowns during his sophomore campaign
• Played in 11 games at wide receiver, catching 14 passes for 240 yards and a touchdown
• Returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown to provide Tennessee's lone score in the team's 30-6 loss to Pittsburgh
• Scored kickoff returns in back-to-back games to end the season: a 92-yarder against Kentucky and 98-yarder against Vanderbilt
• Also accounted for a 48-yard touchdown catch in the Vols' 45-14 rout over rival Kentucky

1979 - FRESHMAN

• Caught three passes for 95 yards his freshman year, including a 69-yard touchdown in UT's 51-18 win over Utah
• Had a team-leading four catches for 22 yards in the Vols' 27-22 loss to Purdue in the Bluebonnet Bowl

HIGH SCHOOL

• Played football and ran track for Griffin High School in Griffin, Georgia
• Earned All-State honors in both his junior and senior seasons
• Caught 33 passes and scored seven touchdowns his senior season, averaging 19 yards per catch
• Led Griffin to the AAAA State Championship game his junior year, recording two receptions for 19 yards in the title game against Valdosta