Tennessee football: Vols top five 2020 signees who could contribute early

We just mentioned the potential opening at quarterback when discussing Jimmy Holiday. That’s a way for him to squeak into the playing time conversation. Harrison Bailey, on the other hand, could potentially burst his way through into that conversation depending on what happens. And that’s why we had to put the 6’4″ 220-pound prospect from Marietta High School in Georgia on this list.

Bailey is Tennessee football’s only five-star, which he was upgraded to after an amazing senior season playing high school ball. Beyond that, he is an early enrollee, so he’ll be able to start picking up Jim Chaney’s system pretty quickly, which could make him a major force throughout the 2020 offseason and heading into next season.

Brian Maurer was aggressive but largely ineffective last year as a freshman. JT Shrout, despite his solid arm, didn’t show much either. So Bailey could immediately become second string. In fact, his potential combined with him enrolling early may make him a slight favorite to become second string ahead of Shrout and Maurer.

Yes, Jarrett Guarantano is the starter going into the year. But Guarantano didn’t start half the past season and was benched multiple times due to ineffective play. Also, Guarantano has been knocked out of games due to injury. The combination of those two things could mean Bailey, with his likelihood of becoming second string, sees lots of action, and that puts him on here.