Tennessee football: Five takeaways from 2021 spring game

3. Clear QB pecking order until the end

This could change in fall camp when Kaidon Salter and Joe Milton, assuming they’ll both be with the team, join the battle. However, until then, Tennessee football’s quarterback race ends spring ball with Harrison Bailey clearly in the lead. Brian Maurer comes in second, and Virginia Tech Hokies graduate transfer Hendon Hooker comes in third.

Bailey completed 12-of-15 passes, while playing for both teams, for 260 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. he also showed some mobility, avoiding a sack under pressure at one point and making a couple key throws. Maurer, on the other hand, completed 9-of-15 passes for 171 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions. He ran for 32 yards on the day as well.

Hooker seemed to have the worst performance early, throwing a pick-six in the first half. However, he finished 10-of-14 for 111 yards and a touchdown while running for another 13 yards and a touchdown. His TD pass was a late throw to Cedric Tillman that looked really impressive.

Right now, it looks like Bailey is leading the race with Maurer in second and Hooker in third, but it’s hard to fully gauge how all of these quarterbacks performed in this game. After all, they played with different units at different times. That leads to our next takeaway from the outing.