Everything seems to be going amazing on Rocky Top. With their latest surge in recruiting, the University of Tennessee has moved up to number two in the 2021 recruiting rankings, and the Vols have seemed to have found their football coach in Jeremy Pruitt. Tennessee is looking to make yet another splash on the recruiting trail with four-star quarterback Kaidon Salter. Salter, the number four dual threat quarterback in the nation, also competes in track and field at his high school in Cedar Hill, Texas. While this commitment will add more steam for Tennessee on the recruiting trail, it also will add more confusion in Tennessee’s crowded quarterback room.

Tennessee currently has six quarterbacks on scholarship, and there is no clear-cut starter going into the season. The 2019 season was filled with controversy at the position, with Jarret Guarantano being benched mid-season for freshman Brian Mauer. Redshirt freshman JT Shrout also got some snaps during the season with Mauer getting hurt. Head coach Jeremy Pruitt often swapped out these quarterbacks mid game, and really didn’t make a commitment at the quarterback position

With the start of the 2020 season imminent, Pruitt has not made an announcement to name the starting quarterback. During the offseason, Tennessee signed five-star pro-style quarterback Harrison Bailey out of Marietta, Georgia. Bailey led his high school through the gauntlet known as Georgia high school football to a state championship. After this amazing feat, his name has created a certain buzz around Knoxville. Along with comparisons to Peyton Manning, there has been very audible calls for Bailey to be the starting quarterback this season. Tennessee also signed dual threat quarterback Jimmy Holiday, a three-star prospect out of Mississippi. While many believe Washington will be moved to play wide receiver, he is still listed as a quarterback on Tennessee’s roster. Another name to throw into the mix is Kasim Hill, who transferred from Maryland last year and is now eligible for the 2020 season. Hill was a four-star prospect coming out of high school, picking up offers from Michigan, Nebraska, and Penn State.

I’m not sure what direction offensive coordinator Jim Cheyney and Jeremy Pruitt is going to go as far as the quarterback position in Knoxville. Hell, I don’t think they really know either. There certainly isn’t a lack of options in the QB room, and there is a very diverse mix of skill sets within it. Mauer, Washington, and (potentially) Salter can use their legs to add another dimension to the offense for Cheyney. However, Cheyney’s offense during his first-year last year looks to suit more of a pro-style quarterback like Guarantano, Shrout, and Bailey. Transfers are surely imminent, especially if Tennessee is able to land Kaidon Salter on Sunday. All eyes will be fixed on Cedar Hill, Texas to see where Salter lands, the quarterback situation in Knoxville is all but sorted out.