Trey Smith has faced off against college football’s fiercest defensive linemen, anchored the offensive line for one of the NFL’s most electric teams, and lifted a Lombardi Trophy with the Kansas City Chiefs. But ask the former Tennessee Volunteers legend about his most gluttonous personal achievement, and you’ll hear a response that has nothing to do with football and everything to do with hot wings.
In a recent interview that quickly went viral, Smith confessed to something that had fans both laughing and shaking their heads in disbelief. The 6-foot-6, 320-pound offensive lineman, known for his unshakable poise on the gridiron, stumbled over his words a bit as he admitted to what might be his most outrageous off-the-field feat: consuming an unbelievable amount of hot wings in one sitting.
“I’m embarrassed to say this,” Smith said with a laugh. “But the most hot wings I’ve ever eaten in one sitting is… 76.”
Seventy-six. Not a typo. Not a joke. Just 76 fiery, sauce-slathered chicken wings down the hatch, all consumed in one legendary sitting. Smith’s revelation was met with equal parts amazement, awe, and amusement. And while it may not land in the record books, it certainly adds another chapter to the mythos of the former Tennessee star, who remains one of the most beloved players to come through Knoxville in the past decade.
For those who’ve followed Smith’s journey, the story tracks. A native of Jackson, Tennessee, Smith arrived in Knoxville as a five-star recruit with sky-high expectations. He didn’t just meet them—he bulldozed right through them. A starter from day one, Smith quickly became the heart and soul of the Volunteers’ offensive line. Even more impressive was his resilience in the face of adversity. After being diagnosed with blood clots in his lungs—a condition that threatened to derail his career—Smith fought back, not just to play again, but to dominate. His story became one of perseverance, grit, and pure will.
So when he casually dropped a bombshell about inhaling 76 hot wings, it felt oddly on brand. Trey Smith doesn’t do anything halfway.
“I don’t even know what got into me,” he said. “We were at this wing spot, and it started as a joke. Someone bet me I couldn’t eat 50. I hit 50 and didn’t feel that bad, so I kept going. I think I tapped out at 76. That was it. Never again.”
Smith’s teammates reportedly couldn’t believe what they were witnessing. What began as a lighthearted challenge turned into an all-you-can-eat spectacle. By the time he crossed the 70-wing mark, everyone around him had long given up on the food and simply watched in awe.
“That man’s appetite is legendary,” one former Tennessee teammate joked. “We used to joke that he eats defensive ends for breakfast, but that night it was literal wings. And a lot of ’em.”
When asked about the aftermath, Smith didn’t sugarcoat it.
“Oh, I paid for it,” he admitted. “Felt like I had a volcano in my stomach. My mouth was numb. I didn’t even want to look at a chicken wing for like a month. But you live and learn, right?”
Wing fans around the country may debate which flavors reign supreme—buffalo, honey BBQ, garlic parmesan—but Smith said his weapon of choice that night was a mix of medium buffalo and hot, alternating every few wings to keep things “interesting.”
“It wasn’t like I was crushing the Carolina Reaper or anything,” Smith laughed. “But they had some kick. Definitely wasn’t playing it safe.”
To put the feat in perspective, most competitive eaters struggle to pass 50 wings in a single sitting. The average eater caps out somewhere between 15 and 20. Trey Smith, without any formal training or plan, almost hit 80. Not for a trophy, not for a title—just for pride, a dare, and maybe a little bit of boredom.
The story quickly picked up steam online, with fans and media personalities chiming in to give Smith his due. “You know a guy’s a beast when he treats hot wings like pancakes,” one fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter). Another added, “Trey Smith vs. Joey Chestnut in a wing-off. Make it happen.”
Even the Kansas City Chiefs’ social media team joined the fun, posting a photoshopped image of Smith seated on a throne made of chicken wings, wearing a crown and holding a drumstick like a scepter. The caption read, “The Wing King.”
But while the story may seem light-hearted, it reflects something deeper about Smith: his unwavering competitive nature and larger-than-life presence. Whether it’s battling SEC defensive linemen or tackling a pile of spicy wings, Smith brings intensity, focus, and a touch of humor to everything he does.
The moment also gave Vols fans yet another reason to smile. Even years after his departure for the NFL, Smith remains fiercely loyal to his alma mater and its fans. He frequently visits Knoxville, supports the program publicly, and even mentors younger linemen looking to follow in his footsteps.
“Tennessee shaped me,” Smith said in a 2023 interview. “The people, the program, the adversity I went through there—it made me who I am today. I’ll always bleed orange.”
And that love is mutual. For fans of the Big Orange, Smith isn’t just remembered for his on-field dominance, but for his character, his perseverance, and moments like these—human, hilarious, and unforgettable.
The hot wing story is the kind of anecdote that bonds fans even tighter to their heroes. It’s a reminder that beneath the shoulder pads and accolades is a guy who enjoys life, embraces challenges, and doesn’t mind laughing at himself once in a while.
That said, Smith made it clear he has no plans to go for a repeat performance.
“Nah, I’m retired from wing-eating competitions,” he said, chuckling. “That was a one-time thing. I’m older now, I know better. But every time I see wings, somebody brings it up. ‘Yo Trey, you trying to break 80?’ I just shake my head. Not a chance.”
Still, for fans and wing aficionados alike, the legend lives on. Seventy-six wings in a single sitting—an outrageous, unforgettable moment in the Trey Smith lore. It’s the kind of story that gets passed around barbecues and tailgates, that becomes part of the oral tradition of a fanbase that already idolizes the man who wore No. 73 in orange and white.
If there’s one lesson in all of this, it’s that greatness can take many forms. On the field, Trey Smith was a wall of strength and a model of perseverance. Off it, he’s a down-to-earth giant who once made an entire restaurant stop and stare as he powered through a mountain of hot wings, bite by bite.
“I guess it’s one of those stories I’ll be telling my kids one day,” Smith said. “‘Don’t try this at home’ kind of thing. But hey, it’s a good memory.”
And while Smith may consider the wing-eating feat an “embarrassment,” his fans certainly don’t. If anything, it just makes him more legendary.
After all, not every hero wears a cape—some wear bibs, leave sauce stains on their shirt, and make history with 76 hot wings and a grin.