By Darin 🏈 The Defensive Wall of the Old South
Long before the SEC became a modern juggernaut, a single player from Bell Buckle, Tennessee, forced the national media to turn its gaze toward Nashville. Lynn Bomar wasn’t just a two-way star for Vanderbilt; he was a human highlight reel in an era of “iron man” football. Known as the “Tennessee Terror,” Bomar was a devastating linebacker who once saved five touchdowns in a single game and an elite receiver who anchored back-to-back undefeated seasons. Discover the story of the man who broke the Northern monopoly on All-American honors and cemented Vanderbilt’s place in gridiron history.
Football Bio
January 21, 1901 – Bell Buckle, Tennessee – Lynn Bomar, the end from Vanderbilt, was born. Bomar was one of the very first southern players to make it on Walter Camp’s All-America team, according to the NFF. In his first season in 1921, the team went undefeated, and in the game against Georgia, Bomar was credited with saving five touchdowns with his play at linebacker. In 1922, he found his offensive groove, teaming up with quarterback and future Hall of Fame coach Jess Neely to form a passing combination that led to a second consecutive unbeaten season. In 1923, he and fellow Vandy end Hek Wakefield were both listed as All Americans. The National Football Foundation selected the College Football Hall of Fame in 1956 to enshrine Lynn Bomar.
A Legacy of Southern Dominance
Lynn Bomar’s career at Vanderbilt remains a gold standard for versatility. During the 1920s, most All-American selections were reserved for Ivy League stars or powerhouses in the North, but Bomar’s sheer athleticism made him undeniable to Walter Camp. His defensive performance in the 1921 Georgia game is still cited by historians as one of the greatest individual defensive displays in Southern football history. By the time he teamed up with Jess Neely, Bomar had become the prototype for the modern tight end—large enough to block and fast enough to be a deep threat. His induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1956 ensures that his role as a pioneer for Southern football will never be forgotten.
Accolades and Football Accomplishments
- College Football Hall of Fame Inductee (Class of 1956)
- Walter Camp First-Team All-American (1923)
- Consensus All-American (1923)
- Two-Time Undefeated Season Starter (1921, 1922)
- Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA) Champion (1921, 1922)
- All-Southern Team Selection (1922, 1923)
- Vanderbilt Athletics Hall of Fame Member
- Voted Vanderbilt’s Greatest Player of the First Half-Century (1950)
