Senior Staff Writer/Editor/Host
If the University of Tennessee ever got its hands on a machine straight out of Dr. Doofenshmirtz's laboratory (shoutout to those who get that reference) called the "Quarterback Generate-tator," the Volunteers would have the ultimate experiment: creating a starting quarterback using the best traits from every gunslinger in Tennessee history.
Here is how they would build the perfect Tennessee quarterback.
ARM TALENT:
I believe the answer here is obvious. When you're talking about pure arm talent, not many quarterbacks can come close to Joe Milton. Well... except for Uncle Rico, of course, but he didn't play for Tennessee.
Milton's downfield throws were unlike anything Tennessee fans had seen in years. Every time the ball left his hand, it felt like it would never come down, until it eventually found its way back into the Earth’s atmosphere.
SCRAMBLING ABILITY:
I personally have never seen a Tennessee quarterback use his legs quite like Joshua Dobbs. He was elusive in the open field and had the speed to rip off explosive runs at any moment. As I write this, I'm having flashbacks to him tiptoeing the sideline for what felt like an extra 10 yards. He was incredibly difficult to bring down in space and had a knack for making defenders look downright foolish.
ACCURACY:
The 2022 Tennessee offense was electric, and a big reason why was Hendon Hooker's almost surgical accuracy. During his time at Tennessee, Hooker posted a remarkable 58-to-5 touchdown-to-interception ratio, seemingly putting nearly every throw exactly where it needed to be.
As fun as Jalin Hyatt's five-touchdown performance against Alabama was, it wouldn't have happened without Hooker's pinpoint accuracy. Time and time again, he put Hyatt in position to make plays, turning one of the greatest seasons by a Tennessee quarterback into one of the most explosive offenses in college football.
TOUGHNESS:
I watched this guy play quarterback with a cast on his arm the size of a bald-faced hornet's nest (seriously, just Google it). He would stand in the pocket, take an absolute beating from opposing defenders, then pop right back up as if nothing had happened. Whatever else you want to say about Jarrett Guarantano, toughness was never in question. This category has to go to him.
If Tennessee were ever able to feed these traits into the "Quarterback Generate-tator," the result wouldn't just be the greatest quarterback in school history; it might be the closest thing college football has ever seen to a terminator.
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