Lofton reacts to ‘special’ honor of jersey retirement

Chris Lofton | UT Athletics

Lofton reacts to ‘special’ honor of jersey retirement

Posted on September 16, 2022

It was a matter of when, not if, Chris Lofton would have his No. 5 jersey retired by the University of Tennessee.

We no longer have to wonder when that will happen.

UT announced on Thursday that Lofton’s No. 5 will go up into the rafters at Thompson-Boling Arena on Saturday, Jan. 14, when the Vols host Kentucky.

For the Maysville, Ky., native, it’s recognition of the work he put in leading up to and during his time at Tennessee.

“I just remember getting (to Tennessee) and thinking, ‘I have to outwork everybody,'” Lofton told Josh and Swain on Friday. “I don’t have time for anything else — get my education, get my degree, and work on my basketball game because I was disappointed and upset nobody wanted me.

“That lit a fire under me real bad just to (say) I’m going to outwork everybody in the SEC, everybody in the country. I just wanted to give my all for Tennessee because it’s always been special because they took a chance on me when nobody else would.”

Watch and listen below as Lofton reflects on his time at Tennessee and discusses what playing for the Vols has meant to him.

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