Fulmer’s focus: Finding No. 1 QB
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The Volunteers have 15 spring practices before the Orange and White game on April 17.
Tennessee’s biggest challenge is replacing four-year starter Casey Clausen, and the contenders will be heavily scrutinized.
“They will be graded daily by period,” Fulmer said. “We’re going to find that first guy by the end of spring practice.”
Senior C.J. Leak, who has played sparingly since he came to Tennessee in 2001 after injuring his knee at Wake Forest, is the front-runner, Fulmer said.
Junior Rick Clausen, younger brother of the former starter and LSU transfer, will compete with Leak and junior receiver James Banks.
Whoever comes out on top at the end of spring practice will then compete with freshmen Erik Ainge and Brent Schaeffer when they arrive in August. The Vols are hoping to redshirt one of the freshmen.
Fulmer knows what kind of player he’s looking for.
“Fundamentally, he needs to be an outstanding player. Not a good player, an outstanding player,” Fulmer said.
The rest of the team also is curious to see who looks the best, and the defense will help sort things out.
“I have no idea what they’re capable of. I’ve seen them before, but I want to see what they’ll do when we’re coming at them,” linebacker Kevin Burnett said.
The quarterbacks will not be spared from the physical practices Fulmer plans. They will not wear the no-contact green practice jerseys like they normally do.
Tennessee also will use the spring to shore up the safety positions now empty with the departure of last year’s seniors Rashad Baker and Gibril Wilson. Sophomore Corey Campbell and junior Brandon Johnson are the projected starters.
Jason Allen could move to safety if necessary, but Fulmer wants to keep him at cornerback.
The Vols have plenty of running backs, but they desperately need one of them to carry the load like Travis Henry or Travis Stephens in years past. Cedric Houston, Jabari Davis and Corey Larkins are seniors while Gerald Riggs is a junior.
Tennessee had to rely too much on passing last season, and offensive coordinator Randy Sanders wants to fix that. Besides, a solid running game will help a new QB.
“Whether we run it 200 yards or 100 yards we have to make the defense line up and stop the run. That’s probably where we failed the most last year — not making the defense dedicate itself to stopping the run,” he said.
Another spot to fill is center, vacated by outgoing senior Scott Wells. Jason Respert, Richie Gandy and Rob Smith are possibilities.
Chuck Prugh, who was Wells’ backup last year, has not been cleared by doctors to practice yet. Prugh missed most of last season because of a serious respiratory illness.
The quarterback competition should be interesting since Rick Clausen and Leak appear to be fairly similar.
“Neither one of them is going to absolutely blow you away with their physical skills,” Sanders said. “It’s one of those deals where they are going to have to do things right, play with great effort and get the other people in the right position.”
Meanwhile, Banks is athletically impressive, which is why he was moved to receiver last season. A quarterback in high school, Banks has said all along he wants a chance to be a QB at Tennessee.
“He’s going to get a legitimate chance to play quarterback here,” Fulmer said.
If Banks doesn’t come out as the starter, he will play at receiver and still be able to play quarterback in certain situations, Sanders said.
Punter Britton Colquitt, the younger brother of All-American Dustin Colquitt, remains suspended from the team through the end of spring practice “while he’s dealing with his personal issues,” Fulmer said.
Britton Colquitt has been arrested at least three times for underage possession of alcohol.
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