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How Tennessee football QBs who won starting job midseason performed the next year

By Caleb Calhoun

Sep 11, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Hendon Hooker (5) looks to pass the ball against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the second quarter at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 11, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Hendon Hooker (5) looks to pass the ball against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the second quarter at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tennessee quarterback Andy Kelly (8) fires one of his 26 second half passes against Virginia during the Sugar Bowl at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans Jan. 1, 1991. After falling behind 16-0 in the first half, Kelly had 19 completions to lead the Vols to a come-from-behind 23-22 victory.
Tennessee quarterback Andy Kelly (8) fires one of his 26 second half passes against Virginia during the Sugar Bowl at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans Jan. 1, 1991. After falling behind 16-0 in the first half, Kelly had 19 completions to lead the Vols to a come-from-behind 23-22 victory. /

5. Pick Analysis. 1990. Sophomore. Andy Kelly. player. Scouting Report. 839

179-of-304; 2,241 yards; 14 TDs; 14 INTs

Yes, his stats aren’t the same as some of the other guys on this list, but Andy Kelly played in a different era, and his leadership was huge for Tennessee football. With the Vols 5-0 and ranked No. 6 coming off a bye, Johnny Majors and offensive coordinator Phillip Fulmer made the gutsy move to still bench Sterling Henton and start Andy Kelly.

Reggie Cobb’s dismissal in the open week was a huge role in this, as they felt they’d need to utilize their deep-ball passing game more. It looked bad when they lost at Alabama immediately after making this move, but they still scored 30 points in that game.

Kelly and the Vols won out the rest of the way to finish 11-1 and in the top five as co-SEC Champions. A year later, Kelly was the clear-cut starter, and he led the Vols to a 9-2-2 record and their second straight SEC Championship. With him at the helm, the also came back from 19-3 to win the Sugar Bowl 23-22 in what remains their last Sugar Bowl appearance.

Things continued in 1991 with Kelly leading the Vols to a 9-3 record. He was one of the first quarterbacks to put up huge pocket-passer numbers, and it all came back to him being inserted midway through 1989. That was clearly the right move by the coaches at the time.

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