Faizon Brandon QB1

[GVF]

Again, Nico.... Merk..... and now G-Mac has questions. Once? Nico is a head case with a helluva an upside. Twice? Merk may have been a bad recruiting read on potential. Possibly a third slow developing FR in G-Mac?

G-Mac was a very very highly rated HS QB just like Faizon Brandon. It's not like I'm comparing a walk-on to 5* prospect. Both guys are very very high ceiling HS prospects.

Maybe it's absolutely crazy to expect a highly rated 5* QB to develop to the point where he's at least decently ahead of another highly rated 5* QB straight out of HS?

Could Faizon Brandon be head and shoulders above the ceiling of G-Mac? I don't think G-Mac was chopped liver coming out of HS, was he?

Again, there's no proof GMAC is behind in development other than VN expectations or speculative articles. Has CJH or other coaches said he is behind? There was a time when we didn't expect SEC (P4) QB's to be "ready" until JR year. NIL and portal doesn't magically change that development dynamic.

No, you are not comparing a walk on to a 5*. You are comparing a 18yo blue chip to q 19yo blue chip who are both high caliber and have little separation between them. I'm just on the other fence. I'd be disappointed if Faizon was not challenging GMAC. Not saying they haven't done a proper job on a kid who only has 9 collegiate passes and is competing for #1.

Nobody coming from Brentwood Academy could be accused of being chopped liver. Point is, just because Faizon is coming in and pushing the envelope is not an indicator that GMAC is under developed. They are only one year apart. If GMAC was a So or Jr then I'd pull my chair right up next to yours. But, even then my first question would be was it the coach or the pupil. Was it Jaden Rashada or every coach that had him sucking at development. Was Simmons' inability to regain his starting job from Chambliss (DII QB) after his injury because of development?

The only place I've seen you can go and develop and wait your turn and excel when you get your 2 year shot is GA. NIL is not affecting his QB room. You can walk that line all the way back to Zeir. And the ones that hang around and do it right get just that. And it's been one after another since Richt got there and Kirby/Bobo havn't lost pace. That's the one place you can go and put in your time for your Jr year and not have unreal expectations your freshman or sophomore year. And guess what. CJH still has more roster QB's in the league right now than they do. What other HC has 5 current roster QB's in the league with 2 starting.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

Again, there's no proof GMAC is behind in development other than VN expectations or speculative articles. Has CJH or other coaches said he is behind? There was a time when we didn't expect SEC (P4) QB's to be "ready" until JR year. NIL and portal doesn't magically change that development dynamic.

No, you are not comparing a walk on to a 5*. You are comparing a 18yo blue chip to q 19yo blue chip who are both high caliber and have little separation between them. I'm just on the other fence. I'd be disappointed if Faizon was not challenging GMAC. Not saying they haven't done a proper job on a kid who only has 9 collegiate passes and is competing for #1.

Nobody coming from Brentwood Academy could be accused of being chopped liver. Point is, just because Faizon is coming in and pushing the envelope is not an indicator that GMAC is under developed. They are only one year apart. If GMAC was a So or Jr then I'd pull my chair right up next to yours. But, even then my first question would be was it the coach or the pupil. Was it Jaden Rashada or every coach that had him sucking at development. Was Simmons' inability to regain his starting job from Chambliss (DII QB) after his injury because of development?

The only place I've seen you can go and develop and wait your turn and excel when you get your 2 year shot is GA. NIL is not affecting his QB room. You can walk that line all the way back to Zeir. And the ones that hang around and do it right get just that. And it's been one after another since Richt got there and Kirby/Bobo havn't lost pace

My point, as originally, is the development of Nico, Merk, and now G-Mac are less than optimal and kinda look like a trend for young QBs at UT.

Am I biting all my nails off? No. Am I concerned that we've recruited VERY well from HS at the QB spot (and very expensively also) and aren't getting a good return? I am.

At some point, and hopefully with G-Mac and/or Faizon, we start to see that Heupel can bring along one of these highly rated and highly expensive FR QBs.

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

Again, there's no proof GMAC is behind in development other than VN expectations or speculative articles. Has CJH or other coaches said he is behind? There was a time when we didn't expect SEC (P4) QB's to be "ready" until JR year. NIL and portal doesn't magically change that development dynamic.

No, you are not comparing a walk on to a 5*. You are comparing a 18yo blue chip to q 19yo blue chip who are both high caliber and have little separation between them. I'm just on the other fence. I'd be disappointed if Faizon was not challenging GMAC. Not saying they haven't done a proper job on a kid who only has 9 collegiate passes and is competing for #1.

Nobody coming from Brentwood Academy could be accused of being chopped liver. Point is, just because Faizon is coming in and pushing the envelope is not an indicator that GMAC is under developed. They are only one year apart. If GMAC was a So or Jr then I'd pull my chair right up next to yours. But, even then my first question would be was it the coach or the pupil. Was it Jaden Rashada or every coach that had him sucking at development. Was Simmons' inability to regain his starting job from Chambliss (DII QB) after his injury because of development?

The only place I've seen you can go and develop and wait your turn and excel when you get your 2 year shot is GA. NIL is not affecting his QB room. You can walk that line all the way back to Zeir. And the ones that hang around and do it right get just that. And it's been one after another since Richt got there and Kirby/Bobo havn't lost pace. That's the one place you can go and put in your time for your Jr year and not have unreal expectations your freshman or sophomore year. And guess what. CJH still has more roster QB's in the league right now than they do. What other HC has 5 current roster QB's in the league with 2 starting.

Justin Fields is an exception. So was Eason

 

[GVF]

My point, as originally, is the development of Nico, Merk, and now G-Mac are less than optimal and kinda look like a trend for young QBs at UT.

Am I biting all my nails off? No. Am I concerned that we've recruited VERY well from HS at the QB spot (and very expensively also) and aren't getting a good return? I am.

At some point, and hopefully with G-Mac and/or Faizon, we start to see that Heupel can bring along one of these highly rated and highly expensive FR QBs.

Nico was a head case and wasn't worried about football. I personally don't think Merck had the IT factor, and sometimes you just don't know that till you get them. It's hard to gage HS competition sometimes on these guys and they're just over recruited or over rated. See Harrison Bailey. Merck wouldn't have started anywhere in the SEC with any staff. That was apparent when no SEC school thought enough of him to take him from the portal. Those two ain't on CJH. This is a big if, but IF i was a coach looking for QB's I'd be all over GA outside the ATL looking for guys in these rural tough districts that earn everything they get. Not a high flyer around ATL in a swamp of high schools that have weakened districts. That's how you get a 3A level fighter like Stockton from a hole in the wall town in NE GA.

I'll cede on GMAC and say let's see what happens. IMO, he's prob got the tools to work with. And sometimes the light just don't come on bright till they get real game time, not just 9 passes. What I would criticize is when we had games to give him some real exposure last year w/o burning his red shirt...we didn't. What i may predict though is if all else is equal, Faizon will likely be more mobile and agile and that will likely be the final measurement. I'd say both have elite skills otherwise. And that's not a knock on Gmac's development, just a nod to Faizons gifts.

 

[GVF]

Justin Fields is an exception. So was Eason

True. Forgot about them two. Eason was a surprise for me though. Didn't Eason hit the Richt/Smart transition ?? He may have just been a victim of systems ?? But Kirby and Richt were/are similar systems. Not a huge/drastic change. Fields came on a little later and made the league.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

Nico was a head case and wasn't worried about football. I personally don't think Merck had the IT factor, and sometimes you just don't know that till you get them. It's hard to gage HS competition sometimes on these guys and they're just over recruited or over rated. See Harrison Bailey. Merck wouldn't have started anywhere in the SEC with any staff. That was apparent when no SEC school thought enough of him to take him from the portal. Those two ain't on CJH. This is a big if, but IF i was a coach looking for QB's I'd be all over GA outside the ATL looking for guys in these rural tough districts that earn everything they get. Not a high flyer around ATL in a swamp of high schools that have weakened districts. That's how you get a 3A level fighter like Stockton from a hole in the wall town in NE GA.

I'll cede on GMAC and say let's see what happens. IMO, he's prob got the tools to work with. And sometimes the light just don't come on bright till they get real game time, not just 9 passes. What I would criticize is when we had games to give him some real exposure last year w/o burning his red shirt...we didn't. What i may predict though is if all else is equal, Faizon will likely be more mobile and agile and that will likely be the final measurement. I'd say both have elite skills otherwise. And that's not a knock on Gmac's development, just a nod to Faizons gifts.

My concern is exactly what you've mentioned: is Josh tied to the "old ways" where QBs were locked in by NCAA rules and "waited their turn" to start after lots of development?

Most of the younger QBs Coach Heupel is known for developing were under "the old ways" and he seems very resistant to getting young guys snaps in games.

With the older guys like Hooker and Milton, being grad transfers they had snaps under their belt and several years of development (in part because I think they began their careers before the portal era started.)

I am questioning Heupel's reluctance to get game snaps for guys who are the future and wondering if that's a problem for their development.

He is reluctant to sub a QB in..... and we are seeing a lack of development. Are they related? I can't say 100% yes but we're seeing him able to do great things with guys who've already "seen battle" vs his green guys.

 

[Hairy Vols]

My concern is exactly what you've mentioned: is Josh tied to the "old ways" where QBs were locked in by NCAA rules and "waited their turn" to start after lots of development?

Most of the younger QBs Coach Heupel is known for developing were under "the old ways" and he seems very resistant to getting young guys snaps in games.

With the older guys like Hooker and Milton, being grad transfers they had snaps under their belt and several years of development (in part because I think they began their careers before the portal era started.)

I am questioning Heupel's reluctance to get game snaps for guys who are the future and wondering if that's a problem for their development.

He is reluctant to sub a QB in..... and we are seeing a lack of development. Are they related? I can't say 100% yes but we're seeing him able to do great things with guys who've already "seen battle" vs his green guys.

You’re literally asking yourself questions and pivoting them into these moot points? Let me show you.

“Does Josh Heupel prefer mustard on his hotdog? He clearly hasn’t stated that he uses it, so it seems that there are questions when it comes to his decision making as a coach.”

That is what you sound like.

You’re debating issues with the QB position when that is the least worrisome position for Heupel. Nobody in the national media, local media, or anywhere for that matter is questioning his QBs, their development, and their play.

Fine better content to post but this is ahhh.

 

[vol_smoothie]

There are outliers, however, practice is without a doubt the best indicator.

Though Tennessee has had a few notable exceptions through the years when there was a competition.
QB's who did not win the job at the end of fall camp eventually turned out to be the best game performer, Ainge in 2004, Dobbs in 2015 and Hooker most recently.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

You’re literally asking yourself questions and pivoting them into these moot points? Let me show you.

“Does Josh Heupel prefer mustard on his hotdog? He clearly hasn’t stated that he uses it, so it seems that there are questions when it comes to his decision making as a coach.”

That is what you sound like.

You’re debating issues with the QB position when that is the least worrisome position for Heupel. Nobody in the national media, local media, or anywhere for that matter is questioning his QBs, their development, and their play.

Fine better content to post but this is ahhh.

Our QB position this year is arguably our biggest question mark.

My question with Heupel is valid. Why aren't we getting good development from these young, highly rated HS QBs he's recruited? Is it his unwillingness to give them game experience? Is it some kind of issue with his QB analysis when he's recruiting?

He's had great luck coaching up older QBs that were essentially jumped at other schools but the younger QBs he's gotten out of HS, not so much even though we've gotten highly sought after guys.

Without high level QB play, we're not going far in the SEC, much less the playoffs. Heupel's claim to fame, as you say, is his "QB whisperer" skills and he's shown what he can do with older guys.

This year, he's going to have to show us something he hasn't since he got here: can he get a young QB ready for the SEC? So far..... Meh.

 

[MDsweetT]

Our QB position this year is arguably our biggest question mark.

My question with Heupel is valid. Why aren't we getting good development from these young, highly rated HS QBs he's recruited? Is it his unwillingness to give them game experience? Is it some kind of issue with his QB analysis when he's recruiting?

He's had great luck coaching up older QBs that were essentially jumped at other schools but the younger QBs he's gotten out of HS, not so much even though we've gotten highly sought after guys.

Without high level QB play, we're not going far in the SEC, much less the playoffs. Heupel's claim to fame, as you say, is his "QB whisperer" skills and he's shown what he can do with older guys.

This year, he's going to have to show us something he hasn't since he got here: can he get a young QB ready for the SEC? So far..... Meh.

Very few coaches succeed with young quarterbacks and a lot of QBs transfer before they find their footing.

Burrow, Nix, Jayden Daniels, Kyler, Baker, Cam Ward, Jaxson Dart, Mendoza are all QBs who transferred and found success in their second before being first rounders.

The last freshman QB to win a natty was 2018 Trevor Lawrence and that Clemson team had @ least 4-5 additional first rounders on the roster.

Yes it’d be nice to have a multi year starter who can keep that consistency but in this day in age, teams with experienced QBs and rosters are winning

 

[NighthawkVol]

SAYS WHO?

Looks like swiftybaby says. You can see who says a thing in a post by looking at the poster’s name. You’re welcome.

 

[GVF]

My concern is exactly what you've mentioned: is Josh tied to the "old ways" where QBs were locked in by NCAA rules and "waited their turn" to start after lots of development?

Most of the younger QBs Coach Heupel is known for developing were under "the old ways" and he seems very resistant to getting young guys snaps in games.

With the older guys like Hooker and Milton, being grad transfers they had snaps under their belt and several years of development (in part because I think they began their careers before the portal era started.)

I am questioning Heupel's reluctance to get game snaps for guys who are the future and wondering if that's a problem for their development.

He is reluctant to sub a QB in..... and we are seeing a lack of development. Are they related? I can't say 100% yes but we're seeing him able to do great things with guys who've already "seen battle" vs his green guys.

Reasonable points and I do agree on the game snaps 100%.

 

[zeppelin128]

I've never really understood fans hitching their wagon to a particular quarterback. Like if you are related or friends I get that, you want your guy to start. But otherwise? Just put the best dude out there and I'm good.

If it is Smokey, so be it.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

Very few coaches succeed with young quarterbacks and a lot of QBs transfer before they find their footing.

Burrow, Nix, Jayden Daniels, Kyler, Baker, Cam Ward, Jaxson Dart, Mendoza are all QBs who transferred and found success in their second before being first rounders.

The last freshman QB to win a natty was 2018 Trevor Lawrence and that Clemson team had @ least 4-5 additional first rounders on the roster.

Yes it’d be nice to have a multi year starter who can keep that consistency but in this day in age, teams with experienced QBs and rosters are winning

"Very few coaches succeed with young QBs" and yet we're starting a young QB this year (unless Staub starts.)

So I shouldn't be concerned, since "very few coaches succeed....." why we're on this path in year 6 of Heupel's UT career? He's known as a QBs coach and his success with Hooker and Milton is recent.

But we couldn't attract (or afford) a quality QB from the portal? Did we whiff on all the QBs we wanted despite Heupel's proven success of getting guys in the league?

We have a coach who can put an older, even jumped over QB, into the league...... but no older, even jumped over QB wanted to come to UT this year?

And no one is curious why we're almost certainly starting a FR this year???

 

[MDsweetT]

"Very few coaches succeed with young QBs" and yet we're starting a young QB this year (unless Staub starts.)

So I shouldn't be concerned, since "very few coaches succeed....." why we're on this path in year 6 of Heupel's UT career? He's known as a QBs coach and his success with Hooker and Milton is recent.

But we couldn't attract (or afford) a quality QB from the portal? Did we whiff on all the QBs we wanted despite Heupel's proven success of getting guys in the league?

We have a coach who can put an older, even jumped over QB, into the league...... but no older, even jumped over QB wanted to come to UT this year?

And no one is curious why we're almost certainly starting a FR this year???

Oh I’m not saying don’t be concerned, nor do I think your opinion is wrong in any way, whatsoever. It’s not ideal to have such inexperience at the QB position.

24’ we made the playoffs on the back of a great defense and running game. Nico was serviceable but left a lot of yards on the field.

Whoever starts, just needs to manage the game and take care of the

Play complimentary and see what happens

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

Oh I’m not saying don’t be concerned, nor do I think your opinion is wrong in any way, whatsoever. It’s not ideal to have such inexperience at the QB position.

24’ we made the playoffs on the back of a great defense and running game. Nico was serviceable but left a lot of yards on the field.

Whoever starts, just needs to manage the game and take care of the

Play complimentary and see what happens

That's my concern.

Joey A was an experienced and competent game manager QB and that served us 8-5 with a weaker D than we deserved. In the off season, Coach Heupel addressed the D issues and we're expecting much better D performance this year.

It's a little bit of "prop up the front and the back falls down" in my eyes. We took care of the D issues but with Joey A gone, we've not got a seasoned QB to be a game manager.

Expecting a FR, even our very talented RS FR or true FR, to be as good as a veteran QB at just taking care of the ball, managing the flow of drives, and simply not getting rattled is not a common thing to see in high level D1 football. Does it occur? Occasionally. Should we count on it? Probably not.

Kirby, for an example, rode his strong D to a couple of Natty's but he had an "almost Medicare eligible" Stetson Bennett keeping a steady, if mostly just serviceable offensive attack on track.

I'm just puzzled why our proven to put guys in the league head coach, a former Heisman runner up who can run one of the most exciting offenses in college football....... didn't attract an upperclassman QB to UT to replace Joey A?

Certainly it's possible G-Mac or Faizon are generational talents and he didn't need an upperclassman but by your own admission that's not a common thing.

Why are we here in year 6?

 

[MDsweetT]

That's my concern.

Joey A was an experienced and competent game manager QB and that served us 7-5 with a weaker D than we deserved. In the off season, Coach Heupel addressed the D issues and we're expecting much better D performance this year.

It's a little bit of "prop up the front and the back falls down" in my eyes. We took care of the D issues but with Joey A gone, we've not got a seasoned QB to be a game manager.

Expecting a FR, even our very talented RS FR or true FR, to be as good as a veteran QB at just taking care of the ball, managing the flow of drives, and simply not getting rattled is not a common thing to see in high level D1 football. Does it occur? Occasionally. Should we count on it? Probably not.

Kirby, for an example, rode his strong D to a couple of Natty's but he had an "almost Medicare eligible" Stetson Bennett keeping a steady, if mostly just serviceable offensive attack on track.

I'm just puzzled why our proven to put guys in the league head coach, a former Heisman runner up who can run one of the most exciting offenses in college football....... didn't attract an upperclassman QB to UT to replace Joey A?

Certainly it's possible G-Mac or Faizon are generational talents and he didn't need an upperclassman but by your own admission that's not a common thing.

Why are we here in year 6?

Medicare eligible that was great i lol’d at that.

I’d say that progress isn’t always linear. Yes we’re in year 6. I think the Nico situation definitely sullied last season. Heupel made changes at key positions because he knows last year wasn’t acceptable.

We’ve been recruiting at a much higher level the last few years so hopefully the additional talent takes pressure off whoever is the QB.

There’s definitely concern and idk why we couldn’t sign a veteran QB.

I truly believe Heupel has 3 years to make a CFP final four/natty, otherwise I think a change may be needed.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

Medicare eligible that was great i lol’d at that.

I’d say that progress isn’t always linear. Yes we’re in year 6. I think the Nico situation definitely sullied last season. Heupel made changes at key positions because he knows last year wasn’t acceptable.

We’ve been recruiting at a much higher level the last few years so hopefully the additional talent takes pressure off whoever is the QB.

There’s definitely concern and idk why we couldn’t sign a veteran QB.

I truly believe Heupel has 3 years to make a CFP final four/natty, otherwise I think a change may be needed.

Even if Nico had stayed, we should have been looking for an experienced QB OR had a definite QB "brewing" in our QB room for this year.

As it was, Merk was QB2, whether just in name or not..... he took QB2 snaps. G-Mac apparently didn't make "leaps and bounds" over him or we "brought him along slowly" or "we knew Faizon was going to be generational" or what?

It is year 6. I know the portal sucks but it's actually been our best friend for QBs..... until this year.

It's year 6 and Heupel puts "discarded older QBs" into the NFL and we're...... wondering which freshman we're going to start? Something doesn't seem right.

 

[MDsweetT]

Even if Nico had stayed, we should have been looking for an experienced QB OR had a definite QB "brewing" in our QB room for this year.

As it was, Merk was QB2, whether just in name or not..... he took QB2 snaps. G-Mac apparently didn't make "leaps and bounds" over him or we "brought him along slowly" or "we knew Faizon was going to be generational" or what?

It is year 6. I know the portal sucks but it's actually been our best friend for QBs..... until this year.

It's year 6 and Heupel puts "discarded older QBs" into the NFL and we're...... wondering which freshman we're going to start? Something doesn't seem right.

Joey losing his case was certainly unfortunate considering other players got waivers to play this season.

It’s definitely an unusual time for sure, but Heupel has made it work in the past with unproven commodities at QB and I expect that to continue this year.

It’ll be nice to hopefully have a starter in place for more than a year to develop continuity amongst the entire offense.

 

[GBO2011]

Joey losing his case was certainly unfortunate considering other players got waivers to play this season.

It’s definitely an unusual time for sure, but Heupel has made it work in the past with unproven commodities at QB and I expect that to continue this year.

It’ll be nice to hopefully have a starter in place for more than a year to develop continuity amongst the entire offense.

I don’t like this repeated pattern of pushing things off to next year, but damn if Faizon starts this year I’d be really excited for ‘27 and ‘28

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

Joey losing his case was certainly unfortunate considering other players got waivers to play this season.

It’s definitely an unusual time for sure, but Heupel has made it work in the past with unproven commodities at QB and I expect that to continue this year.

It’ll be nice to hopefully have a starter in place for more than a year to develop continuity amongst the entire offense.

I am not in the "all is lost" camp but I'm wondering why UT isn't more of a destination for QBs at this point. It's year 6 for Heupel and he's extended for a decent run so it's a stable program.

Our WR room is good, our RB room is very solid, our O Line is pretty solid, and our offense can be as dynamic as any in college football.

We should have upperclassmen QBs with decent resumes wanting to be here and especially some guys like Hooker or Milton looking for a "new start."

I'm concerned it's the Benjamins we're lacking.

 

[Woodlawn VOL]

I am not in the "all is lost" camp but I'm wondering why UT isn't more of a destination for QBs at this point. It's year 6 for Heupel and he's extended for a decent run so it's a stable program.

Our WR room is good, our RB room is very solid, our O Line is pretty solid, and our offense can be as dynamic as any in college football.

We should have upperclassmen QBs with decent resumes wanting to be here and especially some guys like Hooker or Milton looking for a "new start."

I'm concerned it's the Benjamins we're lacking.

Well Faizon was at the top of the board and GMac was a highly sought after QB so you could say his last 2 classes brought in great prospects. GBO

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

Well Faizon was at the top of the board and GMac was a highly sought after QB so you could say his last 2 classes brought in great prospects. GBO

For sure, but as we've seen it's much more common to win with older QBs. Transferring upperclassmen QBs are getting big paydays for a reason and that reason is experience.

Arguably, that is why Joey A started over G-Mac. I'd think G-Mac's ceiling is much higher but experience matters.

But here we are for year 6. I'm just wondering why.

 

[MDsweetT]

I am not in the "all is lost" camp but I'm wondering why UT isn't more of a destination for QBs at this point. It's year 6 for Heupel and he's extended for a decent run so it's a stable program.

Our WR room is good, our RB room is very solid, our O Line is pretty solid, and our offense can be as dynamic as any in college football.

We should have upperclassmen QBs with decent resumes wanting to be here and especially some guys like Hooker or Milton looking for a "new start."

I'm concerned it's the Benjamins we're lacking.

I can understand that. I think what we’re seeing even with NIL is there aren’t many truly “Elite” QBs at the college level. Mendoza certainly was, Beck was thought to be the #1 pick going into 24’.

JJ McCarthy, Will Howard and Stetson Bennett won as experienced QBs on loaded rosters.

This was a weird offseason. Leavitt would’ve been nice to have but he’s inconsistent and coming off a foot injury. Sorsby has the issue at hand. I wanted the kid from UNT, Mestemaker but he was always going to follow his coach.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

I can understand that. I think what we’re seeing even with NIL is there aren’t many truly “Elite” QBs at the college level. Mendoza certainly was, Beck was thought to be the #1 pick going into 24’.

JJ McCarthy, Will Howard and Stetson Bennett won as experienced QBs on loaded rosters.

This was a weird offseason. Leavitt would’ve been nice to have but he’s inconsistent and coming off a foot injury. Sorsby has the issue at hand. I wanted the kid from UNT, Mestemaker but he was always going to follow his coach.

We're looking at a year where Auburn might have a better QB than UT despite where Auburn has been the last few years vs where UT has been.

I get it that Golesh is a hot commodity and his QB wanted to stay with him but just think about the absolute dumpster fire Auburn has been and they have an upperclassman QB who is getting attention.

Yes, we might get to the playoffs with our young QB just managing the offense Heupel runs and Knowles running a stronger defense.

We have an exciting, not unlearnable, QB numbers friendly offense as Joey A proved last year. UT should be a destination for QBs given Heupel's offense and guys he had going to the league...... but something seems to be keeping that from happening.