Colquitts endow athletics scholarship

Photo by UT Photo

Craig, Jimmy, Dustin and Britton Colquitt.

The University of Tennessee Athletics Department announced Friday that the Colquitt family, which has produced four all-star punters at UT over the last 30-plus years, has endowed a scholarship at Tennessee. The generous contribution of $100,000 by UT’s First Family of Fourth Down permanently endows a football scholarship.

“The Colquitts have made a mark on Tennessee football for more than 20 years,” said Mike Hamilton, men’s athletics director. “This gift ensures they continue to make an impact for years to come.”

Craig, Ann, Jimmy, Dustin, Christia and Britton Colquitt are making the official presentation before the UT-South Carolina game Saturday night at Neyland Stadium.

“The University of Tennessee, through its academic and athletics departments, has enhanced the Colquitt family’s pursuit and accomplishments,” said Craig Colquitt, who is the father of Dustin and Britton and the uncle of Jimmy. “Therefore, with gratitude and appreciation we want to reinvest our time and resources.”

Tennessee’s football records book has its very own Colquitt wing. Jimmy (1981-84) is the career punting average leader at 43.9 yards per attempt, followed by current Vols punter Britton at 42.9, Dustin (2001-04) at 42.6 and Craig (1975-77) at 42.5. On the season charts, it’s Jimmy with his 46.9-yard average in 1982 leading the way, Dustin at 45.3 in 2003, Craig at 45.0 in 1977 and Britton at 44.9 last season.

The UT record for punts in a game is 14 by Craig against Kentucky in 1976, while Jimmy holds the school mark for best punting average in a game at 53.0 -- set against LSU in 1982 and tied the following season against Auburn. Dustin owns the career record for punts (240) and yards (10,216), while Craig owns the season records of 79 punts and 3,813 yards.

Jimmy (1982, 83) and Dustin (2003) were All-America selections for the Vols, while Craig (1976, 77) and Britton (2006) have been selected to All-Southeastern Conference squads.

The Colquitt commitment is part of The Campaign for Tennessee – the most ambitious fundraising effort in the University of Tennessee’s 213-year history. Endowment gifts such as this one provide student-athlete scholarship support for perpetuity.