 After graduation, he went to Virginia Tech on a football scholarship but returned to Knoxville to play tackle on the University of Tennessee football teams in 1952 and 1953.A "Knoxville News Sentinel" “Sports Brief” prior to his junior year said, “Tommy Hensley, age 20, 6 foot 190 pound junior (actually 6-2 and 220 pounds), from Knoxville lettered last year as a defensive tackle.His performances on
offense during the spring increased his potential value to the team.