Tennessee football: Five positives that came out of the Jeremy Pruitt era

2. Strong quarterback room

Just recently, Tennessee football was forced to dismiss dual-threat quarterback Kaidon Salter. If he had stayed with the team, this might be No. 1 on the list, as Salter was a four-star from Texas who committed to Jeremy Pruitt in the 2021 class.

Either way, Josh Heupel, who specializes in quarterbacks, has a lot of good options heading into 2021 thanks to the guys Pruitt left him. Harrison Bailey leads the pack. The one pure drop-back passer on the roster, Bailey was a five-star and is deadly accurate, which showed in the spring. Pruitt luring him to Knoxville in 2020 was a steal.

Then there’s Brian Maurer, who has started multiple games with the Vols already. He’s a dual-threat who was once a three-star and will always be at least an option. Finally, there’s Virginia Tech Hokies graduate transfer Hendon Hooker. Pruitt landed him, another dual-threat, as well, and he gives Heupel an experienced option at quarterback this year.

Heupel brought in Michigan Wolverines transfer Joe Milton himself to complete the room, but 75 percent of the room is still made up of Pruitt recruits among the players who could see the field next year. That would have been 80 percent were Salter not dismissed. Say what you want, but Pruitt deserves credit for stacking up the most important position.