Watch. Listen. Correct. Focus. Learn. Understand.
Be patient but never content.
This is vaguely how redshirt freshman quarterback B.J. Coleman describes his average football practice at the University of Tennessee.
As little as one month ago, the former McCallie School star appeared neck-and-neck with sophomore Nick Stephens for the team’s No. 2 quarterback position — just one play from directing the Volunteers.
Now Stephens is competing with junior Jonathan Crompton for the starting spot, and Coleman has been relegated to third-team duties.
The Vols are 1-3, and they’re struggling on offense.
Coleman could cite plenty of reasons for frustration, but he doesn’t. At least not publicly. He’s still public-relations polished.
“Everything is going great,” Coleman said. “I’m coming along a lot, and I’m really enjoying being able to be out there and get some good, quality reps.”
As Coleman described his practice routine, though, one quickly wonders about the quality of those reps.
“I’m doing the same thing they are the whole practice, except they’re doing the reps and I’m doing it mentally,” he said. “Those guys are doing a heck of a job, like I said, and what I’m doing is feeding off of them. As they go, I’m watching them and just making sure that if I was in there, I’d be able to do the same thing. If they mess up, I’m there to learn from the mistakes.
“That’s kind of part of being a young football player.”
Coleman was prominently known in Chattanooga from his first few moments as McCallie’s starting quarterback, but he wasn’t considered an elite national prospect until he’d finished his senior season.
A strong showing at a national all-star game vaulted him to four-star status and the country’s No. 10-ranked pro-style passer.
UT coaches claimed Coleman was a valid contender for the second spot all preseason, but concerns over Crompton’s slow start forced them to pick a primary backup and get him ready to play.
They selected Stephens.
“It’s just like our tailback situation; you can’t get three quarterbacks ready,” first-year offensive coordinator Dave Clawson said. “At some point, B.J. will have his opportunity.”
Head coach Phillip Fulmer didn’t describe his decision as if it came from a coin flip, though.
“B.J.’s doing all right,” Fulmer said. “We made the decision to stop splitting those second-team reps because we felt like we had to get Nick ready, basically. So (Coleman) has not gotten a lot of reps. B.J.’s got good knowledge of the offense.
“He’s really working on his fundamentals, but he’s got some things he’s really got to improve on to get into this mix. But he’s got good countenance, and he’s certainly a willing listener.”
It’s never been a secret that former Vols offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe was a big reason why Coleman signed with UT. Now that Cutcliffe is the head coach at Duke and Coleman is temporarily locked into a third-team role, unsubstantiated rumors are circulating that Coleman could transfer.
Coleman laughed at that suggestion.
“You know what? I really do feel good here,” Coleman said. “I’ve always said that you have to be very thankful where the Lord has put you. He’s always got a plan for you. When the time is right, everything will fall into place.
“In due time, you know? In due time.”
Coleman maintained that Crompton and Stephens are “excellent football players” and that he’s “blessed to compete with them.
“Right now, those guys look really good out there, and I think they’re going to give us a really good opportunity to get out there and get a win,” Coleman said. “At the same time, I think we’ve got to continue to compete. You never know what could happen, so I’m always out there working and always studying in the film room and always trying to get better, to get that mental and physical edge.
“Any time I get an opportunity to get out there, I want that edge.”
