Vols quarterback transitions often have bumps, bruises

John Adams
Knoxville
Vols quarterback Quinten Dormady (12) throws a ball during practice on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2017.

A quarterback change always heightens the anxiety before a college football season. The anxiety is magnified given Tennessee’s history.

Its next quarterback transition will take place in the season opener. Either Quinten Dormady or Jarrett Guarantano will be named as the successor to Joshua Dobbs.

The quarterback story doesn’t always end with that season-opening announcement, though. In the past 25 years, whenever Tennessee has had to break in a new quarterback, it has ended up using multiple starters five times. And it has needed three starters to get through a season four of those times.

One of the best examples of the turnover was in 1994 when Jerry Colquitt succeeded Heath Shuler as the starting quarterback. He had played enough as a backup to indicate he would be successful.

And he probably would have been, if he could have stayed healthy.

He was injured in the first game. Career over.

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The next starter was Todd Helton, whose injury cleared the way for the Peyton Manning Era. The result: three starting quarterbacks and an 8-4 record – UT’s worst in six years.

Tennessee began the 2000 season with Joey Mathews as the starter, then switched to A.J. Suggs before finally settling on freshman Casey Clausen, who started for four seasons.

The Vols opened the 2004 season with a two-quarterback system. And both quarterbacks, Erik Ainge and Brent Schaeffer, were freshmen. But by early November, UT had lost both to injury. Rick Clausen then came off the bench to lead the Vols into the SEC championship game.

In 2010, the Vols began the season with Matt Simms as their new quarterback. Freshman Tyler Bray took over the starting job in November.

In 2013, Butch Jones’ first season as Tennessee’s coach, the new starting quarterback was Justin Worley. In the fourth game, against Florida, Jones replaced Worley with Nathan Peterman. Worley returned as the starter until he was injured against Alabama, leading to Dobbs’ first start.

When you review all the quarterback turnover, you are reminded of the uncertainty and the drama it induced. You also are reminded that Tennessee has suffered more than its share of attrition through injury at the position.

Casey Clausen was an exception. He took some brutal hits in four seasons as a starter. But when he went out, he didn’t stay out. Toughness and durability were as important to his success as his passing accuracy.

You could say the same for Dobbs. Unlike Clausen, Dobbs was a force as a runner. And his greatest strength as a runner was his durability.

Guarantano would give UT a running threat at quarterback. Dormady would be more mobile than Worley, but not someone who would scare a defense with his running.

However, durability can be a plus whether you’re working from the pocket or charging into the secondary at full speed. Tennessee’s quarterback history proves that.

Reach John Adams at john.adams@knoxnews.com or 865-342-6284 and on Twitter @johnadamskns.

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