What Bailey’s exit means for Tennessee
Harrison Bailey is looking for a new school less than a year after he was the starting quarterback for Tennessee football.
Bailey, a former four-star recruit, entered the transfer portal Wednesday. He is the final scholarship quarterback from UT’S 2020 roster to elect to transfer.
Here is what his decision means for the Vols:
Tennessee’s depth is minimal
The immediate impact of Bailey’s decision is on UT’S quarterback depth for the remainder of the 2021 season.
The Vols (4-4) only have two scholarship quarterbacks in Hendon Hooker and Joe Milton. Both were transfers after playing the 2020 season elsewhere with Hooker at Virginia Tech and Milton at Michigan.
Hooker has started the past six games, clearly emerging as QB1 after extended action against Pittsburgh on Sept. 11. Both have been banged up. Most recently, Hooker left in the final minute against Ole Miss with a lower body injury. Hooker runs often and takes a lot of hits, which increases the possibility of injury.
Bailey and Brian Maurer were in the mix at QB for the Vols in the preseason. Maurer entered the transfer portal in August after he dropped to fourth on the depth chart. UT also dismissed freshman quarterback Kaidon Salter in June following his second arrest after joining the Vols in January. Salter transferred to Liberty.
Hendon Hooker’s 2022 decision looms large
Hooker was asked Wednesday if he has thought about what he will do next season. The senior could return to Tennessee due to the NCAA granting an extra year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I haven’t thought about it,” Hooker said. “Really just concentrating on this season, winning the next ball game against Kentucky. Currently we’re in the bye week, so tightening up on nuances that we need to work on and getting healthy. I haven’t really thought about it at all.”
If Hooker returns, Tennessee has its
starting quarterback for next season. If he opts to head for the NFL, all eyes will turn to Milton and the transfer portal.
What will Joe Milton do?
Milton, who started the first two games of the season, has played sparingly as a reserve and as an injury replacement in the past six games.
His future presumably ties into what Hooker does after the season. If Hooker returns, Milton could transfer again given he’d be QB2. He has two years of eligibility remaining after this season due to the extra year of eligibility.
If Hooker departs, Milton could stick around and compete to start in 2022.
Tennessee needs to add a transfer
Tennessee needs to add a transfer quarterback because it is hard to imagine both Hooker and Milton returning in 2022.
Assuming only one returns, UT would have either Hooker or Milton and freshman Tayven Jackson as its only scholarship quarterbacks in 2022. So getting in the transfer portal is a must for Heupel.
Tayven Jackson’s readiness is important
Even if Tennessee adds a transfer quarterback, Jackson needs to be ready as he would likely be QB3 next season.
Jackson is a four-star in the 247Sports Composite rankings. Jackson, from Center Grove High School in Indiana, is the No. 203 prospect nationally and the No. 13 quarterback.