Tennessee football: Ranking all six QBs at start of 2021 spring practice
Jarrett Guarantano transferred to the Washington State Cougars and J.T. Shrout transferred to the Colorado Buffaloes. Meanwhile, the Vols signed two freshmen in 2021, added a graduate transfer and return three quarterbacks from last year.
On top of all of that, UT has a brand new offensive staff. Included in that stuff is a quarterback guru in new head coach Josh Heupel, a new offensive coordinator in Alex Golesh and a new quarterbacks coach in Joey Halzle.
Of the six quarterbacks on the roster, four are scholarship players, three have started at the Power Five level and two have started a game for Tennessee football. Here is our ranking of all six of them with spring practice underway for 2021 based on who has the opportunity to gain the most.
Freshman. Sully McDermott. 6. 839. Scouting Report. Waxhaw, N.C.. player. Pick Analysis
6’4″ 212 pounds
A true freshman, Sully McDermott walked onto the program as a commitment to the previous staff. He was recruited by Brian Niedermeyer and committed back on Jan. 15, just as UT was about to fire Jeremy Pruitt.
Coming out of Marvin Ridge High School in North Carolina, McDermott is one of only two pure pocket passers on the roster. As the youngest of the two walk-ons, he is the least likely to win the job, but never say never.
player. 839. Pick Analysis. Germantown, Tenn.. Scouting Report. Redshirt sophomore. Spencer Smith. 5
6’1″ 200 pounds
Like Sully McDermott, Spencer Smith is a walk-on. They are both equally experienced in Josh Heupel’s system as well. However, Smith has been in the Tennessee footballprogram for two years already, so that has to count for something.
The product of St. George’s High School just outside of Memphis is clearly familiar with defenses at this level given inevitable practice experience over the past two years. As a result, he is more likely to win the job than McDermott, but neither are likely.