It’s time to start examining where each position stands headed into Butch Jones’ second Vol spring practice. We’ll break down the entire team before practice kicks off next week. Quarterbacks are first on the docket.

The Players

Justin Worley—6-4, 222-pound senior. 172/306, 56.2%, 1977 yards, 11 TDs, 13 INTs, 116.3 ypg.

Nathan Peterman—6-2, 221-pound RS sophomore. 10/23, 43.5%, 45 yards,  0 TDs, 2 INTs, 11.3 ypg.

Josh Dobbs—6-3, 210-pound sophomore. 72/121, 59.5%, 695 yards, 2 TDs, 6 INTs, 139.0 ypg.

Riley Ferguson—6-3, 181-pound RS freshman. No college game experience.

The Situation

Like last year, the Vols are heading into spring practice with the starting quarterback job up for grabs. Three different QBs started for Tennessee last year and all four scholarship QBs on the roster are likely to get close to equal reps when spring practice kicks off. No player heads into spring with a clear leg up on the starting spot, and, if last year is any indication, odds are against a starter being officially named when spring practice wraps up.

Justin Worley returns as the most experienced QB on the roster. Though he was benched once last season, he led the Vols to a victory over No. 10 South Carolina and showed he could run the offense and take reasonable care of the football. Of the three Vol QBs who saw action last year, Worley was the most consistent.

Then-freshman QB Nathan Peterman won the starting job headed into the Florida game but struggled mightily in two quarters of action. When healthy, he showed flashes in practice and repeatedly demonstrated that he has one of the bigger arms on the team. He’s a better player than he showed in the Florida game and will get a chance to show that this spring.

Josh Dobbs was forced into action after Worley injured his thumb. He started Tennessee’s last four games, showing flashes of both brilliance and youth. In limited action he rushed for 263 yards, the most for a Vol QB since Tee Martin ran for over 300 yards in 1999. He also threw six interceptions and struggled to run the offense at times.

Riley Ferguson is the only Vol scholarship signal caller who didn’t play last season. He was the No. 2 QB for much of the season before suffering a stress fracture in his leg. If he had stayed healthy last season, Ferguson would have been given a chance to start at some point. He impressed in practice (especially in live drills) and has the biggest arm on the team.

Football Time’s Take

Every Vol QB with game experience has thrown more career interceptions than touchdowns. All told, Tennessee’s QBs have combined to throw 13 TDs and 21 INTs. Those aren’t exactly inspiring numbers, but there are reasons to believe the Vols will have much better QB play this season. For one, the Vols won’t be learning a new offensive system this year and that alone should ensure more production from the QB position.

Josh Dobbs and Riley Ferguson proved they were the two most talented quarterbacks on the team throughout the year. Both are mobile and have above average arm strength. Both are a year older and wiser. When handicapping the QB race, Dobbs and Ferguson are the favorites to emerge from spring practice as the favorites to win the job.

Here’s why.

Ferguson would have been given a chance to start last year if not for his injury. He consistently impressed the coaches in practice with his arm strength, foot quickness, and decision-making under pressure. He is the “alpha male” you consistently hear Butch Jones talking about.

Dobbs, in his first start, accounted for more total yards (285 at Missouri) than Worley’s single-game career-high (284 against MTSU in 2011). His ability to make plays with his legs under pressure is something the Vols haven’t had from the QB position in a long time.

The Vols will be replacing their entire offensive line. That won’t be easy no matter wins the job, but a QB with mobility would certainly help that process. The upside for Tennessee’s young QBs is clearly higher than their more veteran counterparts, but that doesn’t mean you should count out Worley or Peterman.

Ferguson and Dobbs have to prove they can make consistently better decisions before either will be given the reins to the team. The coaching staff sees the big play ability they have—and that’s something that was missing with both Peterman and Worley at QB—they just need to see their young QBs cut down on turnovers without losing the capability to push the football downfield.

Think about it this way. Coaches, fair or not, get three years to prove they have what it takes. I can guarantee you Butch Jones and Co. don’t want to be breaking in a new QB in year three. That stacks the deck against Worley and means he’ll have to drastically step up his game to win the job this season. Based on his three years at UT, his ceiling may not be that much higher than what we’ve already seen. 

Peterman is a bit of a wildcard. He has youth (he’s just a RS sophomore) and a strong arm on his side, but he hasn’t been able to consistently turn those into production on the football field. Like Worley, he’ll get a fair shot, but he’ll be fighting an uphill battle against the more naturally gifted Ferguson and Dobbs.