Tennessee football: 10 Vols who should redshirt in 2020

Harrison Bailey comes in as a guy who could compete for the starting job immediately. His raw potential as a five-star true freshman quarterback who could shock people and shoot up the depth chart, particularly with his 6’5″ frame already, kept him off the list of players who should redshirt. Being an early enrollee for Tennessee football only makes it more clear.

Brian Maurer, on the other hand, should definitely take a redshirt. Maurer started four games last year and played in six. However, his production wasn’t great, and he was knocked out of two different games due to injury. As a result, he joins Bailey as the only two scholarship quarterbacks who has a redshirt available, and he should take it entering his second year.

Again, behind Jarrett Guarantano, Maryland Terrapins redshirt junior transfer Kasim Hill has proven himself. He will likely get a look to back up Guarantano, as will Bailey. Maurer beat out JT Shrout last year, who will be a redshirt sophomore this year, but Shrout proved himself to be more than worthy of being a starter. So there’s still competition on that front.

Taking it all into account, a redshirt would help Maurer get fully healthy, and when Guarantano leaves in 2021, he has the chance to join what could be an epic quarterback race that year. One season off could benefit him in trying to develop more into a pocket passer at 6’3″ 195 pounds, and that could make him extremely talented going forward. So this would be a good move for him.