Quarterback
1. Andy Kelly, 1988-1991
There are no surprises with this one. Tennessee football began moving away from the I-formation/veer and more towards the pro-style after Daryl Dickey finished the 1985 season. Following that was Jeff Francis, a pure drop-back passer, who started for the Vols for three years. But then came Andy Kelly, who took over midway through the 1989 season.
Kelly led the Vols to back to back SEC titles and then went 9-3 as a senior in 1991. By the end of his career, he owned every UT passing record with over 6,300 passing yards and 36 passing touchdowns. He then became an Arena Football League star. Wins, championships and yardage show Kelly was easily Johnny Majors’ most successful quarterback at UT, so he’d start here.
2. Tony Robinson, 1982-1985
If the Vols were going for a change of pace and wanted to revert to their early ways under Majors, Tony Robinson would be the guy. Robinson was an All-SEC quarterback in 1984. That accomplishment plus his early success in 1985 before a season-ending injury, which included beating the Auburn Tigers and Alabama Crimson Tide, are why he edges out Jimmy Streater.
Although Robinson didn’t finish that final season, he had as much to do with the Vols winning the SEC as anybody. Proving himself in big games, he’d back up Kelly on Majors’ all-time team. That leaves one other candidate: Heath Shuler. Another dual-threat, most of Shuler’s success overwhelmingly came under Phillip Fulmer. As a result, Robinson gets the nod.