Best Freshman QB since Peyton

[#1fulmerite]

Pick your choice (one) of who you think was the best freshman QB here at Tennessee since Peyton. Can be either true freshman or redshirt. If I forgot one, please write it in. (Only as a freshman-not career)

 

[SpookyAction]

I had a name or two in mind until I saw you meant freshman VOLS QBs.
Nico is probably the best true freshman we ever had. With Nico, all you can comment on is potential. He's never proven he is as good as advertised yet.

Clausen proved the most as a true freshman. So I say him.

 

[dduncan4163]

The length of that list makes me feel old

 

[norrislakevol]

It's either Clausen or Ainge. I'll go with Ainge. I'll never forget the crucial throws he made to get us into FG range against Florida.

 

[LegionnaireOfTheMiserable]

Ainge won at a Georgia team that had national championship aspirations and started for a team that went to the SEC Championship. If his sophomore year had not been a disaster, I think he would be unanimous, but some probably let that cloud their opinions. He has to be the answer. Clausen benefited from a weak schedule by the time he took over but was good as a freshman.

I think the answer would have been Dobbs if he could have redshirted as planned. He got a brutal schedule playing a Bama team that went 11-0 before the kick 6, the Kick 6/Georgia Miracle Auburn team, and Mizzou team that won 12 games and went to the SEC Championship, and a 9 win James Franklin Vandy team for his first 4 games he saw the field.

 

[OrangeInKy]

Won at UGA early as underdogs, that may put him over Clausen, but I prefer Clausen. Won the East in 2004 and gave an unbeaten Auburn team a fight in the SEC title game.

 

[hardyemt_p]

Brent Shaffer, lol JK!

 

[wmcovol]

Between Clausen & Ainge. Neither played the full season due to injury.

 

[sonofUT62]

Won at UGA early as underdogs, that may put him over Clausen, but I prefer Clausen. Won the East in 2004 and gave an unbeaten Auburn team a fight in the SEC title game.

Clausen didn’t play in 2004. I think what you’re trying to say is right and maybe you just typed it backwards??

 

[OrangeInKy]

Clausen didn’t play in 2004. I think what you’re trying to say is right and maybe you just typed it backwards??

Yes, I meant Ainge, who the post I responded to was about. I’m aware of one they both played. My brain is fried. I was talking about Ainge and threw on my preference for Casey, then resumed argument for Ainge.

 

[A-RodWiLks]

Clausen was a punk. Glad he disappeared after college.

 

[Volizona]

Dobbs was a true freshman Butch’s first year after Dooley. The roster was depleted, yet he stepped in and made something out of nothing and I believe beat a ranked SC Spurrier team. Ainge and Causen had much better coaching and better supporting casts.

 

[Volizona]

Clausen was a good QB, but his teams underperformed in 3 of 4 of his seasons. 2001 was his only great team, and we blew it against LSU. He also lost several bowl games to below average ACC teams.

 

[#1fulmerite]

I have to go with Ainge as the best freshman, redshirt or otherwise. I remember Schaefer receiving all of the hype and how he was the next Michael Vick. But, the way Ainge hung in the pocket at the end of that Florida game, I knew he was the better of the two.

 

[#1fulmerite]

Back in the day, it seemed like Fulmer liked to have two freshman battle it out and pick one to finish that year and go for the next three.

Like some of you, at the time, I thought Stewart was better than Peyton. Anyone think Suggs was better than Casey?

 

[allstar34bd]

Honestly, I wish we could clone Tyler Bray and have him for the rest of eternity... I don't know why; but man I loved that offense.

EDIT--- dadgum we would've been a complete team with 1/3 of those WR's last year.

2	Alton Howard	WR	5' 8"	Fr.	Orlando, Fla. / Edgewater
3	Tyler Drummer	WR	6' 1"	Fr.	Powell, Tenn. / Powell
6	Vincent Dallas	WR	5' 11"	So.	Ellenwood, Ga. / Cedar Grove
7	Drae Bowles	WR	6' null"	Fr.	Jackson, Tenn. / Jackson Christian
9	Sam Cranford	WR	6' 4"	Fr.	Nashville, Tenn. / Christ Presbyterian Academy
11	Justin Hunter	WR	6' 4"	Jr.	Virginia Beach, Va. / Ocean Lakes
18	Jason Croom	WR	6' 5"	Fr.	Norcross, Ga. / Norcross
30	Max Arnold	WR	5' 11"	So.	McKenzie, Tenn. / McKenzie
36	Cody Blanc	WR	6' 3"	Fr.	Knoxville, Tenn. / Knoxville Central
80	Dylan West	WR	6' 1"	R-So.	Oneida, Tenn. / Oneida
83	Zach Rogers	WR	6' null"	Sr.	Nashville / David Lipscomb
84	Cordarrelle Patterson	WR	6' 3"	Jr.	Rock Hill, S.C. (Northwestern /
87	Jacob Carter	WR	6' null"	R-So.	Nashville, Tenn. / Ensworth
87	Alex Ellis	WR	6' 4"	Fr.

 

[wmcovol]

Clausen was a good QB, but his teams underperformed in 3 of 4 of his seasons. 2001 was his only great team, and we blew it against LSU. He also lost several bowl games to below average ACC teams.

Clausen was handicapped by an inept OC Randy Sanders. That said, dude had ice water in his veins. 4th & 19 at Bama? Road wins both years at Fla, 2 wins at Alabama, wins at ND.

 

[YankeeVol]

Honestly, I wish we could clone Tyler Bray and have him for the rest of eternity... I don't know why; but man I loved that offense.

EDIT--- dadgum we would've been a complete team with 1/3 of those WR's last year.

2	Alton Howard	WR	5' 8"	Fr.	Orlando, Fla. / Edgewater
3	Tyler Drummer	WR	6' 1"	Fr.	Powell, Tenn. / Powell
6	Vincent Dallas	WR	5' 11"	So.	Ellenwood, Ga. / Cedar Grove
7	Drae Bowles	WR	6' null"	Fr.	Jackson, Tenn. / Jackson Christian
9	Sam Cranford	WR	6' 4"	Fr.	Nashville, Tenn. / Christ Presbyterian Academy
11	Justin Hunter	WR	6' 4"	Jr.	Virginia Beach, Va. / Ocean Lakes
18	Jason Croom	WR	6' 5"	Fr.	Norcross, Ga. / Norcross
30	Max Arnold	WR	5' 11"	So.	McKenzie, Tenn. / McKenzie
36	Cody Blanc	WR	6' 3"	Fr.	Knoxville, Tenn. / Knoxville Central
80	Dylan West	WR	6' 1"	R-So.	Oneida, Tenn. / Oneida
83	Zach Rogers	WR	6' null"	Sr.	Nashville / David Lipscomb
84	Cordarrelle Patterson	WR	6' 3"	Jr.	Rock Hill, S.C. (Northwestern /
87	Jacob Carter	WR	6' null"	R-So.	Nashville, Tenn. / Ensworth
87	Alex Ellis	WR	6' 4"	Fr.

Yea, the defense was TRASH. Could score 40, but give up 45

 

[livefaith]

Honestly, I wish we could clone Tyler Bray and have him for the rest of eternity... I don't know why; but man I loved that offense.

EDIT--- dadgum we would've been a complete team with 1/3 of those WR's last year.

2	Alton Howard	WR	5' 8"	Fr.	Orlando, Fla. / Edgewater
3	Tyler Drummer	WR	6' 1"	Fr.	Powell, Tenn. / Powell
6	Vincent Dallas	WR	5' 11"	So.	Ellenwood, Ga. / Cedar Grove
7	Drae Bowles	WR	6' null"	Fr.	Jackson, Tenn. / Jackson Christian
9	Sam Cranford	WR	6' 4"	Fr.	Nashville, Tenn. / Christ Presbyterian Academy
11	Justin Hunter	WR	6' 4"	Jr.	Virginia Beach, Va. / Ocean Lakes
18	Jason Croom	WR	6' 5"	Fr.	Norcross, Ga. / Norcross
30	Max Arnold	WR	5' 11"	So.	McKenzie, Tenn. / McKenzie
36	Cody Blanc	WR	6' 3"	Fr.	Knoxville, Tenn. / Knoxville Central
80	Dylan West	WR	6' 1"	R-So.	Oneida, Tenn. / Oneida
83	Zach Rogers	WR	6' null"	Sr.	Nashville / David Lipscomb
84	Cordarrelle Patterson	WR	6' 3"	Jr.	Rock Hill, S.C. (Northwestern /
87	Jacob Carter	WR	6' null"	R-So.	Nashville, Tenn. / Ensworth
87	Alex Ellis	WR	6' 4"	Fr.

What's absurd about this list is that 1st Team All-SEC DaRick Rogers was kicked off the team right before the season. It was already and insane position, but had he dialed back the devils lettuce, then no WR room in UT history would have even come close!

 

[vols 30]

Dobbs was a true freshman Butch’s first year after Dooley. The roster was depleted, yet he stepped in and made something out of nothing and I believe beat a ranked SC Spurrier team. Ainge and Causen had much better coaching and better supporting casts.

My favorite Dobbs game was the 2014 South Carolina game. 301 yards passing. 166 yards rushing. 5 TDs. Had to comeback a few times to win.

Dobbs would not be denied that night

 

[Volnuck]

Clausen was a punk. Glad he disappeared after college.

You might of thought of him as a”punk”. However, he won more big games on the road than anyone. I did not appreciate him as much as I should have when he was here. The wins at Florida and at Miami were unbelievable. He did what others couldn’t.

 

[njvols]

Pick your choice (one) of who you think was the best freshman QB here at Tennessee since Peyton. Can be either true freshman or redshirt. If I forgot one, please write it in. (Only as a freshman-not career)

Not even competition. Ice man.

 

[njvols]

Clausen was handicapped by an inept OC Randy Sanders. That said, dude had ice water in his veins. 4th & 19 at Bama? Road wins both years at Fla, 2 wins at Alabama, wins at ND.

You can teach some stuff but anything clausen lacked was trumped in spades by his performance in big moments…especially on the road.

 

[OrangeInKy]

Clausen was handicapped by an inept OC Randy Sanders. That said, dude had ice water in his veins. 4th & 19 at Bama? Road wins both years at Fla, 2 wins at Alabama, wins at ND.

Im not sure about the Sanders thing. The second half of that 01 SEC title game was certainly questionable. I think Sanders get dogged a little too much around here, especially knowing now how domineering Fulmer was.

 

[Volholic]

Clausen easily