Tennessee football: Does the 2020 class have room for two quarterbacks?
Jeremy Pruitt and the Tennessee football team could find themselves in a quarterback dilemma. If so, which quarterback do you want?
Two is better than one in almost every scenario. Two beers are better than one, especially when you get them at a price of 2-for-1. Can you even imagine opening up a pack of Reese’s Cups to only find one in the package?
Your day is ruined.
Two free throws are better than one. Two arms, two legs, two ears, and two eyes are all better than having one. You get the point, almost everything you can point to having two is better than having one.
Does the same apply when we are talking about two stud quarterbacks in the same recruiting class?
That’s what Tennessee could be asking themselves after the 2020 class is complete. Should they sign two quarterbacks? Do they need to sign two quarterbacks? Will signing one make the other one mad and vice versa.
The 2020 Tennessee football class is ranked 27th in the nation. That ranks 10th in the SEC behind LSU, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, Mississippi State, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, and Auburn.
No need to worry, at least not yet.
Leading the way is four-star pro-style quarterback Harrison Bailey. According to 247Sports, the 6-foot-4, 224 pounder from Marietta, GA is ranked No.161 in the nation, No.5 pro-style quarterback, and the No.14 highest-ranked prospect from Georgia.
In a recent article from David Ubben of The Athletic, Bailey’s father, Orvel Bailey said, “He’s committed to Tennessee as long as they’re committed to him.”
There are two ways to read into that quote. Does committed to Tennessee mean as long as he has a scholarship? Or does it mean if Jeremy Pruitt and the Vols can’t pursue another quarterback for the 2020 class?
Let’s assume it’s as long as there is a scholarship for Bailey, then yes two quarterbacks are better than one. Oh, yeah, the other quarterback. That would be the four-star dual-threat quarterback, Haynes King. According to 247Sports, King is ranked No.32 in the nation, No.4 dual-threat quarterback, and the No.18 highest-ranked prospect from Texas.
What if Bailey is out if the Vols make King a priority and want to sign two quarterbacks? In that case, would two be better than one?
Bailey has been instrumental in recruiting other prospects to Tennessee. In Ubben’s article, Pruitt told Bailey, “I didn’t realize how respected you were among these guys. Every time a recruit comes here, they ask about you.”
If Bailey wants to be the only quarterback in the 2020 class, is him being respected among the other prospects enough to drop the interest in King?
I think in most cases, having two is better than one. If there is a way, Tennessee can get both guys on campus that’s the play. However, if you can only have one, who do you want?