John Graham Vowell (February 27, 1895 – November 17, 1963) was an American football player for the Tennessee Volunteers, of the University of Tennessee.[1] He was the school's first All-American.[2] Vowell was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame for 2017.[3]
![]() Vowell c. 1921 | |
| Tennessee Volunteers | |
|---|---|
| Position | End/Fullback |
| Class | Graduate |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | (1895-02-27)February 27, 1895 Martin, Tennessee |
| Died: | November 17, 1963(1963-11-17) (aged 68) Tennessee |
| Weight | 184 lb (83 kg) |
| Career history | |
| College | Tennessee (1914–1916; 1921) |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
John Graham was born on February 27, 1895 in Martin, Tennessee to John A. Vowell and Emma Floyd Wilson.
Vowell played mostly at end and was a member of the 1914 SIAA champion Vols; the program's first championship of any kind. He scored three touchdowns in that season's final game against Kentucky.[1][4]

Vowell scored the winning touchdown in the victory over Vanderbilt in 1916 immediately dubbed the upset of the season.[5] He was selected All-Southern in 1916,[6] a year in which he was captain and helped lead the Volunteers to an 8–0–1 record and a share of the SIAA championship. Walter Camp placed Vowell on his All-America third-team. His older brother Morris Vowell was a tackle on some of the same teams. Graham and his family worked in the lumber business.[7]
Vowell came back in 1921, and was given a gold watch by Knoxville fans.[8]
He retired to Florida in 1954.
Walter Camp's All-Americans from the South | |
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| First team |
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| Second team |
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| Third team |
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1916 College Football All-Southern Team composite selections | |
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| Backfield |
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| Line |
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† = Unanimous selection | |