List of Tennessee Volunteers starting quarterbacks


This is a list of notable Tennessee Volunteers starting quarterbacks and the years they participated on the Tennessee Volunteers football team.

Starting Quarterbacks

1971 to present

The following players were notable quarterbacks for the Tennessee Volunteers since UT joined the Southeastern Conference in 1933.
YearNameClassFirst career startGSRecordNotesRef.
2025 [Tennessee Volunteers football team|2025]Joey AguilarSr.August 30th, 2025128-4Transferred from UCLA after Nico Iamaleava transferred to UCLA; never played for the organization. Last played at Appalachian State in 2024-
2024Nico Iamaleava Fr.1310–3Transferred to UCLA-
2023Joe Milton III6th Year128–4-
2023Nico IamaleavaFr.January 111–0First career start on January 1, 2024, against #17 Iowa Hawkeyes football team|Iowa]. Citrus Bowl (January)|Citrus Bowl] MVP-
2022Joe Milton III Sr.22–0Orange Bowl MVP-
2022Hendon Hooker6th Year119–2SEC Offensive Player of the Year, All-SEC football team|All-SEC] First Team, 5th in Heisman voting-
2021Joe Milton III Jr.September 221–1-
2021Hendon Hooker Sr.September 1895–4-
2020Jarrett Guarantano Sr.72–5Transferred to Washington State-
2020Harrison BaileyFr.December 531–2Transferred to UNLV-
2019Jarrett Guarantano Jr.74–3-
2019Brian MaurerFr.October 642–2Transferred to Stephen F. Austin-
2019J. T. Shrout Fr.November 222–0Transferred to Colorado-
2018Jarrett Guarantano So.125–7-
2017Jarrett Guarantano Fr.October 1461–5-
2017Quinten DormadyJr.September 453–2Transferred to Houston-
2017Will McBrideFr.November 1110–1Transferred to Lamar-
2016Joshua DobbsSr.139–4Music City Bowl MVP, All-SEC Second Team, Drafted 135th overall in the 2017 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers-
2015Joshua DobbsJr.139–4-
2014Justin WorleySr.73–4-
2014Joshua DobbsSo.54–1Taxslayer Bowl MVP-
2014Nathan Peterman So.10–1Transferred to Pittsburgh. Drafted 171st overall in the 2017 NFL draft by the Buffalo Bills-
2013Justin WorleyJr.74–3-
2013Joshua DobbsFr.November 241–3-
2013Nathan Peterman Fr.September 2110–1-
2012Tyler BrayJr.125–7-
2011Tyler BraySo.74–3-
2011Justin WorleyFr.October 2931–2-
2011Matt SimmsSr.20–2-
2010Matt SimmsJr.September 482–6-
2010Tyler BrayFr.November 654–1-
2009Jonathan Crompton Sr.137–6-
2008Jonathan Crompton Jr.63–3-
2008Nick Stephens Fr.October 462–4-
2007Erik AingeSr.1410–4Played 6 games under the influence of prescription painkillers
2006Erik AingeJr.129–3-
2006Jonathan Crompton Fr.November 1110–1-
2005Erik AingeSo.54–1-
2005Rick Clausen Sr.61–5-
2004Erik AingeFr.October 264–2SEC Offensive Freshman of the Year-
2004Rick Clausen Jr.November 2043–1Cotton Bowl Classic|Cotton Bowl Classic] Offensive MVP-
2004Brent SchaefferFr.September 533–0Transferred to the College of the Sequoias, later Ole Miss-
2003Casey ClausenSr.1310–3-
2002Casey ClausenJr.117–4-
2002C.J. Leak Jr.October 1210–1-
2002James BanksFr.November 1611–0-
2001Casey ClausenSo.1311–2Florida Citrus Bowl MVP-
2000Casey ClausenFr.October 2176–1-
2000A.J. Suggs Fr.September 1641–3Transferred to Georgia Tech-
2000Joey MathewsSo.September 211–0-
1999Tee MartinSr.129–3All-SEC First Team-
1998Tee MartinJr.September 51313–0Led Tennessee to the 1998 National Championship. He broke the NCAA record for consecutive completions.
1997Peyton ManningSr.1311–21997 Heisman Trophy Runner Up. Davey O'Brien Award. Consensus All-American. SEC Player of the Year.
All-SEC First Team. SEC Championship Game|SEC Championship] MVP. Florida Citrus Bowl MVP		-
1996Peyton ManningJr.1210–2Third Team All-American. All-SEC Second Team.-
1995Peyton ManningSo.1211–1All-SEC First Team.-
1994Peyton ManningFr.September 2487–1SEC Freshman of the Year-
1994Branndon StewartFr.Transferred to Texas A&M.-
1994Todd HeltonJr.September 1031–2Played in 1994 until Peyton Manning took over primary QB duties. Went on to play Major League Baseball.-
1994Jerry Colquitt Sr.September 310–1-
1993Heath ShulerJr.1210–21993 Heisman Trophy Runner Up. SEC Player of the Year. All-SEC First Team.
1992Heath ShulerSo.September 5129–3Hall of Fame Bowl MVP-
1991Andy KellySr.129–3-
1990Andy KellyJr.139–2–2Cotton Bowl MVP, All-SEC Second Team.-
1989Andy KellySo.October 2166–0-
1989Sterling Henton So.September 265–1-
1988Jeff FrancisSr.115–6-
1987Jeff FrancisJr.1310–2–1-
1986Jeff FrancisSo.September 6127–5Liberty Bowl MVP-
1985Daryl Dickey Sr.76–0–1Sugar Bowl MVP, became starter after Robinson injury – Team beat Miami in Sugar Bowl-
1985Tony RobinsonSr.54–1In 1985 was considered a Heisman candidate until season ending knee injury.-
1984Daryl Dickey Jr.September 2210–0–1-
1984Tony RobinsonJr.September 1117–4All-SEC First Team.-
1983Alan CockrellJr.129–3-
1982Alan CockrellSo.126–5–1-
1981Alan CockrellFr.September 1922–0-
1981Steve AlatorreSr.86–2Garden State Bowl MVP-
1981Jeff OlszewskiSr.20–2-
1980Steve AlatorreJr.October 1862–4-
1980Jeff OlszewskiJr.September 653–2-
1979Jimmy StreaterSr.127–5All-SEC. Nicknamed the "Sylva Streak"-
1978Jimmy StreaterJr.115–5–1-
1977Jimmy StreaterSo.September 1094–5-
1977Pat RyanSr.October 820–2-
1976Randy WallaceSr.116–5-
1975Randy WallaceJr.September 14127–5-
1974Condredge HollowaySr.127–3–2-
1973Condredge HollowayJr.117–4Holloway was one of the first African-American quarterbacks to receive national exposure. His nickname at Tennessee was the "Artful Dodger".
1972Condredge HollowaySo.September 9119–2-
1971Jim MaxwellSr.October 3066–0-
1971Phil PierceSr.October 243–1-
1971Dennis ChadwickJr.September 1821–1-

1933 to 1970 (incomplete)

NameYearNotesReferences
Bobby Scott1969–1970
Bubba Wyche1968
Dewey Warren1966–1967
Charles Fulton1965
Art Galiffa1964–1966
Mallon Faircloth1961–1963
Glenn Glass1960–1961
Billy Majors1958–1960
Bobby Gordon1957
Johnny Majors1956
Jimmy Beutel1954–1955--
Bill Barbish1953--
Hal Hubbard1952--
Bill Blackstock1951--
Jimmy Hahn1950–1951Jacobs Blocking Trophy-
Jimmy Hill1949–1950--
Jack Armstrong1948--
Orvis Milner1947Founder of the UT quarterback club.
Walter Slater1946
Buzz Warren1943–1944
Jim Gaffney19431943 season suspended due to WWII
Johnny Butler1941Butler wore number 22.
Van Thompson1940
George Cafego1938–1939Two-time All-American. Heisman finalist. Number 1 overall pick of 1940 NFL draft.
Walter Wood1937
Phil Dickens1935–1936
Charles Vaughn1934
Beattie Feathers1933SEC Player of the Year

1922 to 1932

The following quarterbacks were the predominant quarters for the Volunteers each season after the establishment of the Southern Conference until the establishment of the Southeastern Conference.
NameYears StartedNotabilityReferences
Deke Brackett1931–1932Led Tennessee along with Beattie Feathers to 1932 Southern title.
Bobby Dodd1928–1930Twice All-Southern Team|All-Southern]. Later coached Georgia Tech to the 1952 National Championship. One of only three elected to the College Football Hall of Fame as both player and coach.
Roy Witt1928
D. Vincent Tudor1927–1929
Jimmy Elmore1927
Billy Harkness1924–1926
Jimmie Smith1922

1896 to 1921 (incomplete)

The following quarterbacks were the predominant quarters for the Volunteers each season after the establishment of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association until the establishment of the Southern Conference.
NameYears StartedNotabilityReferences
Roe Campbell1921–1924Awarded the Porter Cup in 1922. Campbell attended Tusculum College before Tennessee, where he is a member of its sports Hall of Fame
Joe Evans1920
Willis McCabe1919Won The Porter Cup
Buck Hatcher1916Led the Vols to their second SIAA title. The New York Times ranked him as the season's premier punter.
Bill May1914–1915Led Tennessee to 1914 SIAA title, the first championship of any kind for the program. This season also featured Tennessee's first victory over Vanderbilt
Red Rainey1913All-Southern.
Rufus Branch1909–1912
Chauncey Raulston1909
J. C. Loucks1906–1908
Walker Leach1905Captain of 1908 team.-
T. R. Watkins1903–1904--
Sax Crawford1901–1902He coached Tennessee in 1904, scoring the first ever win over Alabama.
J. G. Logan1900
C. L. Bryan1899
Strang Nicklin1897Nicklin transferred from UNC to UT in 1896. He was the first UT athlete to play major league baseball and the first to play in a World Series game. His paid baseball participation, together with playing baseball players who were not enrolled, occasioned the blacklisting of Tennessee by the SIAA in 1897.
D. C. Chapman1896

1891 to 1893

The following players were the predominant quarters for the Volunteers each season the team was a non-conference independent team, following the birth of Tennessee football.
NameYears StartedNotabilityReferences
Howard Ijams1891–1893First Volunteer quarterback to play Vanderbilt.