Tennessee football: 10 things to watch for in 2021 spring game

1. Quarterback play

It wasn’t the biggest position battle heading into Tennessee football’s spring practice, even if it was the biggest storyline. Well, it’ll also be the biggest storyline from the Orange and White game regardless of what happens everywhere else.

More from All for Tennessee

• How to Win a GUARANTEED $200 Bonus Betting Just $5 on the Vols vs. Florida!
• Tennessee Football at Florida: Five Keys to a Vols Victory
• Week 3 SEC Power Rankings: Did Tennessee Football’s Win Help At All?
• Week 3 AP Polls: Why Did Tennessee Football Drop in the Polls?
• Tennessee Football: Top Five Performers in 30-13 Win vs. Austin Peay

Everybody wants to see who wins the battle, and the best performer in the spring game is likely to have a leg up. Even with dual-threat four-star freshman Kaidon Salter suspended and Michigan Wolverines transfer Joe Milton not yet on the roster, there will be plenty to scout from these guys when they direct the offense on Saturday.

Harrison Bailey, Brian Maurer and Hendon Hooker complete the variety of quarterbacks without the other two, who would be some variation of the three on the roster. Bailey was once a five-star and is a pure pocket passer, Maurer is a dual-threat who was once a three-star, and Hooker is another dual-threat who was once a four-star and transferred from the Virginia Tech Hokies.

That’s relevant because just as important as which quarterback plays great is how Josh Heupel runs the offense with each quarterback in the game. Another misconception about his spread is that he needs a dual-threat guy, but he can mix it up based on the quarterback in the game. Saturday will show how he does that with each guy.

Despite all the questions surrounding Tennessee football, a quarterback guru as a head coach with a bunch of promising young quarterbacks gives this season some hope. Heupel can help add to that hope Saturday with how he manages these guys. That makes it the top thing to watch for.