There will be no quarterback controversy on Rocky Top this season.
That’s because Vols head coach Butch Jones confirmed on Tuesday that Justin Worley will miss the rest of the season with a torn labrum.
JONES: Justin goes from player Worley to coach Worley. It's a labrum, torn labrum in his throwing shoulder.
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) November 4, 2014
That injury effectively ends Worley’s career at Tennessee.
The senior from Rock Hill, SC injured his shoulder in the Vols’ loss to Ole Miss.
Jones and the rest of the staff were coy when talking about Worley’s injury leading up to their games against Alabama and South Carolina.
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The tactic might have been mildly successful against Alabama, but they fooled no one when it came time to face South Carolina. Gamecocks head coach Steve Spurrier told the media he’d prepared his team for Josh Dobbs and no other Vol quarterback.
There’s no doubt, after Tennessee’s win against South Carolina this past Saturday, this is Josh Dobbs’ team now. There was no reason for the Vol coaches to further muddy the waters. They would’ve gained nothing by continuing to suggest that Worley could play.
Worley never really got a fair shake during his time at Tennessee, due to circumstances. He was thrust into precarious situations during his first two seasons (under then head coach Derek Dooley). Then he was named the starter for his junior season, though he was dealing with an entirely new wide receiver group. Worley was again named the starter for his senior season, but this time around he had to deal with an entirely new starting offensive line.
Vol fans probably won’t recall Worley’s name in the same breath as Manning, Martin and Clausen, but that doesn’t mean he failed to leave a lasting legacy.
Justin Worley was a fierce competitor during his time at Tennessee. We watched him go from a seldom used backup quarterback to one of the team’s most influential leaders.
It’s a tough end to Worley’s career, but it’s also the start of a new era in Knoxville.