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Tennessee football: Vols 5 worst seasons with a junior starting quarterback

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 19: Justin Worley #14 of the Tennessee Volunteers throws a pass in the first half of the game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Neyland Stadium on October 19, 2013 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 19: Justin Worley #14 of the Tennessee Volunteers throws a pass in the first half of the game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Neyland Stadium on October 19, 2013 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images /

5. 2013

Starting quarterback: Justin Worley

Record: 5-7 (2-6)

In terms of record, this would should be higher up the list. But if a 5-7 season could ever provide encouragement that turned out to be false hope, this one would be it. Butch Jones, at the time, had won over Tennessee football’s fan base.

He was in his first year and putting together a top 5 recruiting class for 2014. His new pro-style offense from spread formations had Vols fans excited. And Justin Worley taking over gave fans tepid optimism.

The biggest reason we don’t have this one higher, though, is because what happened isn’t Worley’s fault. Four of the five Vols wins came with him as the starter, and four of their losses came without him starting. A 2-0 start under him followed with a dominating loss to the Oregon Ducks. After that loss, Jones panicked and started Nathan Peterman against the Florida Gators.

Peterman collapsed in the first half, so Worley played the second half to clean up the mess, but it was too late, so the Vols fell 31-17. Then they looked ugly against South Alabama but won before almost beating the Georgia Bulldogs. Coming off the bye, Worley led the Vols to a huge win over the South Carolina Gamecocks.

At 4-3, a bowl was possible. But then the Vols visited the Alabama Crimson Tide. Not only did they get blown out, but they lost Worley for the year. Joshua Dobbs came in but wasn’t yet ready, so UT lost four in a row, including to the Vanderbilt Commodores, before beating Kentucky to finish 5-7.

If Worley starts all year, they beat Florida and Vanderbilt to finish 7-5. That’s why we have this down here. As it stands, he still started the bulk of the season, which is why we have this one on the list.

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