Three-star QB pledges to join Vols for 2019

KNOXVILLE — Tennessee added a quarterback to its 2019 recruiting class Wednesday.

Brian Maurer, a three-star prospect from Ocala, Florida, announced his commitment to the Volunteers through Twitter, becoming the 12th player pledged to Tennessee in this recruiting cycle.

The 6-foot-3, 180-pound Maurer chose the Vols over West Virginia and Florida. He is the only quarterback committed to Tennessee’s 2019 class, which was ranked ninth in the Southeastern Conference by 247Sports.com and Rivals. com after Maurer’s commitment. Maurer is the 18th-best pro-style quarterback in the 2019 recruiting class, according to 247Sports.

“First off I would like to start by thanking God and all of the great universities and coaches for believing in me,” Maurer wrote in the post announcing his decision. “I would also like Thank every single one of the coaches who have coached me in both football and basketball, thank you for pushing me to become the greatest Athlete I can Be and teaching me to become The Best Person I can be.”

Verbal commitments are nonbinding, and Maurer’s first opportunity to sign a national letter of intent will come in December. Tennessee could have up to three scholarship quarterbacks returning in 2019 from the 2018 roster if freshman J.T. Shrout, sophomore Will McBride and redshirt sophomore Jarrett Guarantano all remain part of the program.

Guarantano and Stanford graduate transfer Keller Chryst are the early front runners in a quarterback battle that will heat up when preseason practices begin the first week of August.

Contact David Cobb at dcobb@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @ DavidWCobb and on Facebook at facebook.com/volsupdate.