In less than a year a weakness turned into a strength for the Tennessee Vols
One of the reasons Jeremy Pruitt failed as the head coach of the Tennessee Vols was because of poor quarterback play. Pruitt was never able to get any consistency from the most important position on the field — he used five different quarterbacks in three years. That seems to suggest it was more of a […]
One of the reasons Jeremy Pruitt failed as the head coach of the Tennessee Vols was because of poor quarterback play.
Pruitt was never able to get any consistency from the most important position on the field — he used five different quarterbacks in three years.
That seems to suggest it was more of a coaching issue than a talent issue.
Jarrett Guarantano received the bulk of the playing time at quarterback during Pruitt's three years in Knoxville.
Guarantano, who transferred to Washington State after the 2020 season, was a talented player for the Vols. He was easily one of the toughest players I've seen play at Tennessee. But he never reached his full potential under Pruitt. His best season was in 2019 when he passed for 2,158 yards in 13 games.
Modest numbers at best. But that's what happens when a quarterback isn't set up for success (Pruitt's constant meddling in the offense, including often changing offensive play calls, likely didn't help).
This season, under new head coach Josh Heupel, the quarterback position has gone from a position the Vols have to overcome to win games, to a position that Tennessee uses to win games.
Virginia Tech transfer Hendon Hooker has almost surpassed Guarantano's numbers from 2019, despite only starting six games so far this season.
Hooker has passed for 1,578 yards, 17 touchdowns, and only two interceptions so far this season (eight games).
In six starts, Hooker has passed for 1,385 yards, 15 touchdowns, and one interception.
Over a 13 game season (regular season plus a bowl game), that extrapolates to 3,001 yards, 33 touchdowns, and two interceptions.
Tennessee has only had four players ever throw for 3,000 yards in a season. The last quarterback to accomplish the milestone was Tyler Bray in 2012 (3,612 yards in 12 games).
This is a remarkable turnaround for the Vols and it speaks to the impact that Heupel and his staff can have on a quarterback.
Heupel was hired in late January. He had to rush to get his offense installed during spring and fall. And he didn't figure out who his best quarterback was until midway through the second game of the season.
Imagine what Heupel will be able to do with a full offseason and some added talent.
The quarterback position is now a weapon for the Vols. It's a position that gives the Vols confidence they can win. It's where Tennessee wants the ball in the game's final moments.
"I want the ball in Hendon Hooker's hands, and he knows that," said Vols offensive coordinator Alex Golesh this week. "I think he has a level of confidence about him right now, and offensively, we have a level of confidence with him carrying the football. I want the ball in his hands."
"At the end of the day, you want the ball in his (Hendon Hooker's) hands to give you the best opportunity to win," added Golesh. "He knows that, and we know that. There is a level of confidence that goes with it."
A year ago, there wasn't much confidence from UT fans in the offense.
Now the Vols have one of the best offenses in the nation.
I think it's safe to say that Tennessee finally hired a pretty good head coach.
Featured image via Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
