KNOXVILLE – Prentiss Waggner didn’t know he’d broken a record until he stepped out of the shower Saturday afternoon.
Half and hour after the Tennessee football team pummeled Ole Miss into a 52-14 pulp, a teammate told the Volunteers’ sophomore cornerback that his third interception-return touchdown of the season was a program record. The former record was held by several former Vols, including recent All-America safety Eric Berry.
“It’s a big accomplishment, and a big honor,” Waggner said. “I’m going to have call Eric Berry up later on tonight and tell him about it. He’s in second place now.”
The 6-foot-2, 181-pound Waggner intercepted 16 passes as a junior at Clinton (La.) High School, and he picked off nine as a senior. He was named all-state on both sides of the ball and Louisiana’s Class 2A defensive MVP after both years.
Waggner wasn’t a good tackler at safety, but he was a big-play magnet. A recent move to corner, probably his most natural position, removed some of his tackling responsibilities but kept him near the ball several times per game.