Tim Priest (American football)
| No. 26 | |
| Date of birth | March 10, 1949 |
|---|---|
| Place of birth | Humboldt, Tennessee |
| Career information | |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) |
| Weight | 195 lb (88 kg) |
| College | University of Tennessee |
| High school | Huntingdon (TN) |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 1968–1970 | Tennessee |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Timothy A. Priest (born March 10, 1949) is an American attorney, broadcaster and former football player. He is the current football color analyst for the University of Tennessee's Vol Radio Network, working alongside play-by-play commentator Bob Kesling. Priest played for Tennessee from 1968 to 1970, and holds the school's career interceptions record, with 18. He was captain of the 1970 squad, which featured one of the most heralded defensive backfields in school history.
Priest has practiced law in the Knoxville area since the late 1970s. He served as municipal court judge for the town of Farragut, Tennessee, from 1998 to 2005.
Priest was born in Humboldt, Tennessee, the son of Marshall and Eleanor (Harris) Priest. His mother was a graduate of the University of Tennessee, and worked as a piano teacher. Priest attended Huntingdon High School in Huntingdon, Tennessee. He played quarterback at Huntingdon from 1964 to 1966, winning All-State honors his senior year.
Priest joined Tennessee's football team, at the time coached by Doug Dickey, in 1967, though freshmen were ineligible to play varsity before the 1970s. During spring practice prior to his sophomore year in 1968, Priest beat out two veterans for a starting slot in the defensive backfield. In Tennessee's game against Vanderbilt in November of that year, Priest intercepted a pass at the Tennessee 27 yard line late in the fourth quarter to thwart a Commodore drive and secure a 10-7 victory. He was named to the Sophomore All-SEC team at the end of the season.
As a member of the stellar 1969 defensive unit that included Jack "Hacksaw" Reynolds, Steve Kiner, and Jackie Walker, Priest registered an SEC-leading seven interceptions. In Tennessee's 29-14 win over South Carolina, Priest intercepted a pass from quarterback Randy Yoakum in the fourth quarter to set up the Vols' final touchdown to help seal the win. In Tennessee's 45-19 win over Auburn, he intercepted a pass from Auburn quarterback Rick Eisenacher and returned it 38 yards for a touchdown.
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