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topicnews · August 28, 2024

Tennessee football quarterbacks in their first start at Neyland Stadium

Tennessee football quarterbacks in their first start at Neyland Stadium

Nico Iamaleava will enter Neyland Stadium for the first time on Saturday as the starting quarterback for the Tennessee Volunteers.

The celebrated redshirt freshman will make his first home start when the No. 15 Vols open the season against Chattanooga on Saturday (12:45 p.m. ET, SEC Network). Iamaleava started in UT’s 35-0 Citrus Bowl victory over Iowa to close the 2023 season after making limited appearances in four home games as a substitute.

From Hendon Hooker to Heath Shuler, here’s how the seven winningest quarterbacks since 1990 performed in their first home game:

Hendon Hooker

Hooker was Joe Milton’s backup at the start of the 2021 season after the pair were traded to coach Josh Heupel before his first season. He moved into the QB1 spot after Milton suffered an injury in Week 2 against Pittsburgh.

Hooker completed 17 of 25 passes for three touchdowns in his debut as a starter in a 56-0 win over Tennessee Tech on September 18, 2021. He scored one rushing touchdown and gained 64 yards on nine attempts.

The dynamic transfer from Virginia Tech became a Tennessee legend over the next season and a half. His 2022 season was legendary.

Josh Dobbs

Dobbs began the 2013 season as a third-string player, but moved into the starting lineup in the second half of the season. The freshman made his freshman debut on the road at Missouri and his home debut a week later against No. 7 Auburn.

It was a rough game, and Tennessee lost 55-23 on November 9, 2013. Dobbs completed 16 of 25 passes for 128 yards, with one interception. He ran 10 times for 50 yards.

Dobbs put up tremendous numbers over the next three seasons, leading UT to two consecutive nine-win seasons.

Erik Ainge

Ainge competed with fellow quarterback Brent Schaeffer for the starting job in 2004. He shared quarterback duties with Schaeffer until he became the starter in the fourth game. In a 34-10 loss to No. 8 Auburn on October 2, 2004, he completed 17 of 35 passes for 173 yards with one touchdown and four interceptions.

Ainge and the Vols rebounded from the loss to win the SEC East after winning seven straight conference games.

Casey Clausen

Clausen was named starting quarterback midway through the 2000 season before the Vols played Alabama.

The freshman completed 17 of 24 passes for 213 yards and two touchdowns, helping Tennessee to a 20-10 victory on October 21, 2000. In his four seasons at Tennessee, he started 44 games.

Tea Martin

Martin had the unenviable task of succeeding Peyton Manning in 1998. The Vols began the season on the road against No. 17 Syracuse.

Martin’s debut as a home starter came two weeks later against No. 2 Florida. Martin completed 7 of 20 passes for 64 yards, one touchdown and one interception. In the second game of Tennessee’s national title season, he ran eight times for 25 yards.

FINALLY: Nico Iamaleava had a wild year filled with Tennessee fan frenzy and NCAA battles. Now he can play football

Peyton Manning

Manning’s legendary career began when he became the starter a month into his freshman season following injuries to Jerry Colquitt and Todd Helton.

His debut as a starter was quiet: He completed 7 of 14 passes for 79 yards in a 19-0 win over No. 17 Washington State on October 1, 1994.

Manning finished his career in the Pro Football Hall of Fame as one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history. He set the standard in Tennessee and was selected No. 1 overall by the Indianapolis Colts in the 1999 NFL Draft.

Heath Schuler

Shuler became the starter after Andy Kelly’s outstanding career. He opened the 1992 season by throwing for two touchdowns and 130 yards on 8 of 9 passing against Southwestern Louisiana on September 5, 1992. He also ran for a touchdown and rushed for 20 yards on four attempts.

Shuler started 24 games over the next two seasons and finished second in the 1993 Heisman Trophy voting.

Mike Wilson covers athletics at the University of Tennessee. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @ByMikeWilsonIf you like Mike’s reporting, consider a digital subscription that gives you access to all content.

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