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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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Oct 31, 2015; Lexington, KY, USA; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Joshua Dobbs (11) celebrates after his touchdown against the Kentucky Wildcats at Commonwealth Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 31, 2015; Lexington, KY, USA; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Joshua Dobbs (11) celebrates after his touchdown against the Kentucky Wildcats at Commonwealth Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports /

Junior. Joshua Dobbs. player. 2015. 4. 839. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis

205-of-344; 2,291 yards; 15 TDs; 5 INTs; 146 carries for 671 yards; 11 rush TDs; 1 rec TD

Technically, Josh Dobbs got inserted into the starting lineup for Tennessee football in 2013, but he didn’t win the job. Justin Worley suffered a season-ending injury, and in his first year as head coach, Butch Jones was trying to save a redshirt of Riley Ferguson. Nathan Peterman looked awful in his one start at Florida.

Anyway, Dobbs got the nod against Alabama, but with the Vols 4-4, he lost the next three as UT finished 5-7. A year later, though, it was a different story. Ferguson transferred. Worley again suffered a season-ending injury with the Vols at 3-4. Peterman then came in against Alabama and spotted the Tide a 27-0 lead.

Dobbs came in and led them back to make it 34-20. He got the nod the next week, and his legend was born, as he led the Vols back from 14 down with three minutes to go at South Carolina and helped them win in overtime, gaining 400 total yards of offense and scoring five total touchdowns.

With that game, the Vols were rejuvenated, and Dobbs led them to four wins in their final five games, including their first bowl appearance in four years and first bowl win in seven as they finished 7-6. He obviously got the nod entering 2015.

That hype led the Vols to enter the preseason in the top 25. However, they started 2-3 thanks to three blown two-touchdown leads against the Oklahoma Sooners, Florida and Arkansas. Down 24-3 to Georgia in the first half, momentum was turning against Dobbs again.

Once again, though, Dobbs showed his magic. He led an epic comeback with another 400-total yard five-total touchdown game, and the Vols won 38-31. That sparked an epic finish where, after losing at Alabama, Tennessee football won six straight for its first nine-plus win season and first top 25 finish in eight years at the time.

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