I’ve recently been challenged to learn historical facts about the qb position at the University of Tennessee. In that research I’ve learned quite a bit and am now looking for more info I may find interesting. Maybe some of you can help.
The subject matter is freshman qbs. Everyone knows I’m a huge qb fan and Maurer supporter but this is more about wondering if I happened to stumble across info that we all should know before criticizing him. In the research I’ve done about qbs suggested (Dobbs, Clausen and Ainge) I’ve learned that it may be entirely possible that Maurer may have had the toughest opening 4 game stretch in UT football history.
Dobbs had the closest comparison so far. Dobbs first start was vs #10 Missouri where he threw for 240 yards setting a record for freshman debuts only to be broken in 2019 by Maurer (259) vs #3 Georgia. Dobbs second start was vs #7 Auburn. Maurers third was vs #1 Alabama. Overall stats for both are eerily similar vs daunting tasks. Dobbs: 2 tds 6 ints 600 yards. Maurer: 2 tds 5 ints 500 yards vs higher ranking teams.
Clausen went 6-0 in his first 6 starts. However he only faced 1 ranked team (#17 USCe) within that stretch.
Ainge faced 0 ranked teams in his freshman year.
For the history buffs out there, has there ever been a freshman qb that had to face higher ranking competition than #3 within his first 4 starts?
So far it looks like Ainge had the toughest schedule of his first 4. Followed by what I consider a tie between Maurer and Dobbs. Dobbs faced three ranked teams vs Maurers 2 but Maurers were higher ranked.
Thank you to
@Devo182 and
@volsrock09 for providing that info.