Tennessee’s 2022 regular-season schedule features home games against Ball State, Akron, Florida, Alabama, UT Martin, Kentucky and Missouri.
The Vols’ 2022 schedule features road contests at Pittsburgh in the second edition of the Johnny Majors Classic, LSU, Georgia, South Carolina and Vanderbilt.
“After a lot of thought and prayer, I have decided to enter my name in the transfer portal and pursue other opportunities,” Maurer said on Twitter.
The 6-foot-3, 205-pound signal-caller appeared in 12 games for Tennessee from 2019-20. He totaled 550 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, five interceptions, 97 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.
Maurer came to Tennessee from West Port High School in Ocala, Florida.
The Vols will kick off the 2021 season on Sept. 2 against Bowling Green at Neyland Stadium.
Josh Heupel provides update on the status of Brian Maurer.
Tennessee has practiced eight times during fall training camp.
The Vols scrimmaged for the first time during camp on Thursday.
Following Thursday’s scrimmage, first-year Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel met with media and provided an update on quarterback Brian Maurer.
Maurer did not practice on Wednesday, the Vols’ seventh practice during fall training camp.
“I had an initial conversation with him a few days ago as far as the reps and how those things were going to be divided up,” Heupel said of Maurer on Thursday. “There’s no further update on him. We’ll have a conversation with him during the off day.”
The Vols will not practice Friday and are set to return to Haslam Field on Saturday.
Tennessee quarterback Brian Maurer discusses NIL, academics and being recruited by Josh Heupel.
Brian Maurer enters his third season at Tennessee.
The 6-foot-3, 205-pound quarterback has appeared in 12 games for the Vols. He started four contests as a freshman in 2019.
Maurer has totaled 550 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, 97 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns during his Tennessee career.
He joined the show “Tennessee Two-A-Days” and discussed how student-athletes can benefit from their name, image and likeness.
“This is definitely a new era, and this is definitely still new to us,” Maurer said.
Maurer also discussed Tennessee’s fans and building his brand with supporters.
“It is really just being about building your brand the right way,” Maurer said. “I understand in the past that I made mistakes, but now I have learned that it’s just that one percent, and then there is that 99 percent that are just the good, true fans that love us no matter how we do or how we play.
“I think I have learned that in the past, and being able to build my brand off the good now is going to be really good for me, not only myself, but my teammates as well.”
Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire
Maurer came to Tennessee from West Port High School in Ocala, Florida. He was recruited by Josh Heupel at UCF.
Heupel was hired as UCF’s head coach on Dec. 5, 2017. He offered Maurer on Jan. 19, 2018.
“He offered me and I went out on a couple visits, and I was like this really could be home,” Maurer said of UCF and Heupel. “It was really early in my recruiting process at the time, and I was like this really could be home. The night I was actually thinking about committing to UCF, Coach Jeff Lebby, who is know at Ole Miss, called me and was like sorry — someone else just committed to us — we are still going to recruit you though. I remember just feeling heartbroken.
“Later on in the recruitment process, UCF opened back up, but Tennessee offered me and Ohio State. I was really considering the two and then Urban Meyer retired. I was like, OK, UCF is back in the race.”
Maurer mentioned he loves everything about Heupel and what he stands for.
The Tennessee quarterback explained why he did not commit to Heupel and UCF when an opportunity resurfaced with the Knights.
“I was really wanting to come to UCF,” Maurer continued. “I knew Heupel was a great coach and that he would not be at UCF by the time I graduated. Honestly, I chose Tennessee because of the fan base, the great tradition here, but really one of the main things that put it over the top was Coach (Jeremy) Pruitt was going into his second year when I was coming in. I figured he would be here for awhile.”
The entire show with Maurer can be listened to here or below. Maurer discusses majoring in journalism and electronic media, Tyson Helton in his recruitment and playing golf.
Following the contest, first-year head coach Josh Heupel discussed Tennessee’s quarterback unit that consists of senior Hendon Hooker, sophomore Harrison Bailey and redshirt sophomore Brian Maurer competing for the starting position this spring.
Bailey went 12-for-15 for 261 passing yards and touchdowns in the spring game.
Maurer was 9-for-15, 171 passing yards and two touchdowns, while Hooker was 10-for-14 for 111 passing yards, one touchdown and an interception. Warren Burrell intercepted Hooker and returned it for a touchdown.
“They’ve come a long ways in the last 14 days, leading up to today,” Heupel said of the quarterback unit. “I think if you break spring ball up into thirds, every five practices, you’ve seen exponential growth from all of them. In their command of what we’re doing, ability to get signals and get lined up. Get their eyes, feet in the right place, be accurate with the football.
“I think the last three or four practices have been all of their best practices. I thought they played really efficient today. There were a couple times we needed to get rid of the ball maybe a little bit quicker, if they’re in a real, live situation. I think some of that is tough to judge when you know you’re not live, as well, but did a really good job of taking care of the football besides the one pick where Burrell makes a great break on the football and turns it into six points – a momentum changing play right there. Proud of what each of them have done this spring. I thought they all operated well today. They all had great composure out there.”
Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols WirePhoto by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire
The NCAA transfer portal has been a staple throughout college football in terms of student-athletes departing and arriving on different school’s rosters.
Following the Orange & White Game, Heupel discussed if he expects player movement on Tennessee’s roster with the quarterback unit ahead of the 2021 season.
“I think the quarterback position, along with every position on your roster, with the transfer portal and where we’re at, you have the opportunity to continue to add guys into your program as you get toward the end of the semester and lead into May, before guys are back working out, when you start summer workouts,” Heupel said.
“I’ve been through enough quarterback battles as a player or a coach to know that there’s so much time as you leave spring ball,” Heupel said. “We’ve had 15 practices. We’re going to have a lot more than that when we get to training camp, but they get a chance to sit back now and digest everything that’s gone on this spring. Get a chance to go through some installs this summer. They get a chance to coach it, own it, a little bit on their own. They get a chance to learn from the mistakes. They have an opportunity to come back a much better and different football player by the time they get to training camp.
“You allow your players to grow through this offseason. I think that’s important at the quarterback position, but it’s true everywhere. You have to judge players for who they are today, not where they were yesterday. You have to give kids an opportunity to make that movement during the June and July process.”
Spring practices: Vols’ coaches have fine-tuned to skill set of each quarterback
Tennessee practiced for the 13th time during spring on Thursday at Haslam Field.
Following practice, Tennessee offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Alex Golesh met with media to discuss the Vols’ quarterback unit this spring.
Tennessee’s quarterback unit has featured Harrison Bailey, Hendon Hooker and Brian Maurer splitting time taking first-team reps.
“It’s been the three guys rotating through,” Golesh said of Tennessee’s quarterbacks. “Everybody’s mixing in with the ones, twos and threes. I think they have showed a ton of growth. That’s the one spot where you start with, as you come in as a new staff and put in a new system. All three have shown a bunch of growth in their own ways. As we’ve gone, we have fine-tuned things to each guy’s skill set. As we’ve got into situational football, we’ve fine-tuned things to each guys’ skill set, but it’s been daily growth. They’ve been up and down a little bit at times. As we install more, all lights are on you at that point and that position.
“Obviously, it all goes through that position and there have been days we have been really excited. There have been days where we’ve wanted to see more growth, but individually all three of those guys have done a really good job of soaking it in, getting better every day not making the same mistake twice. We’ve really hit home at every spot, that one specifically in commanding the offense and commanding that group, so I’ve been really proud of those guys with what they have done, where they are at and where they are heading.”
Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire
The Vols will hold its annual Chevrolet Orange & White Game Saturday at Neyland Stadium.
Kickoff is slated for 4 p.m. EDT. SEC Network+ will broadcast the game.
Top rusher, backup quarterback to miss the regular season finale against the Aggies.
When Tennessee takes on Texas A&M today, the Vols will be without two players.
Tennessee will be without its leading rusher and a backup quarterback against the Aggies.
Vol Network reported that running back Eric Gray and quarterback Brian Maurer will miss the regular season finale against the Aggies due to COVID-19 concerns.
Gray is UT’s leading rusher and is also tied with wideout Josh Palmer as the Vols’ leading receiver. Both have 30 receptions in 2020.
Gray has rushed for 772 yards and four touchdowns on 157 carries. He has also caught a pair of touchdown passes.
Maurer is one of four quarterbacks that the Vols have used this season.
The sophomore, who hails from Ocala, Florida, has gone 2-for-6 through the air, amassing nine yards. He has rushed for 41 yards on five carries, including a key 22-yard run in Tennessee’s victory over Vanderbilt in Nashville last week.
Tennessee plays Texas A&M Saturday at Neyland Stadium.
Tennessee kicked off game week ahead of playing Texas A&M.
The Vols and Aggies kick off at noon EST Saturday. ESPN will televise the contest.
Tennessee started freshman quarterback Harrison Bailey the last two games with redshirt sophomore signal-caller J.T. Shrout splitting reps.
Vols’ head coach Jeremy Pruitt discussed if Bailey and Shrout feed off each other splitting reps within games. Both have split reps since redshirt senior Jarrett Guarantano was relieved of starting. Sophomore Brian Maurer has also been inserted in games for situational plays.
“I think both of them are really good teammates and throw Brian in there,” Pruitt said. “With Brian, we’ve tried to create a little bit of a role with him. He made a really good run down there and kind of turned his ankle a little bit. Just with the quarterback room on Saturday, I thought Jarrett did a heck of a job on the sideline with Coach (Chris) Weinke and helping those guys. I really like the way that room is.
“These younger guys are getting opportunities and they are trying to make the most of it. They probably make mistakes that a lot of people don’t see, but they are learning from it. They are gaining confidence. The game is going to slow down for them the more they play. It’s good to see both of these guys go out there and improve each week.”
Tennessee will travel to Vanderbilt Saturday for an in-state SEC East matchup.
Tennessee enters the contest following a 31-19 loss to Florida. The Vols played three quarterbacks against Florida in Harrison Bailey, Brian Maurer and J.T. Shrout.
Kicking off Vanderbilt game week, third-year Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt addressed the Vols’ quarterback unit Monday.
“Harrison and J.T. will take the majority of the reps moving forward,” Pruitt said. “Brian brings an extra element with his athleticism. We’re trying to keep him with a role. I thought he did a nice job on Saturday with the role that he had. We’ll continue doing that moving forward.”
Dec 5, 2020; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Jeremy Pruitt speaks with quarterback Harrison Bailey (15) during the first half against the Florida Gators at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Redshirt senior quarterback Jarrett Guarantano did not play against the Gators. Pruitt discussed if Guarantano will be in the rotation for Tennessee this week and to conclude the regular season.
“We’re going to go with Harrison and J.T., and probably stay with the same schedule as we did this past week,” Pruitt said.
