College Football 2011: Will Matt Simms Earn Back Starting QB Spot at Tennessee?

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Not only is Matt Simms the son of NFL great Phil Simms, but he's the lone senior quarterback on a Tennessee Volunteer roster that features six underclassmen at the position.

Simms struggled last season during an tough stretch of SEC games before being benched in favor of then-freshman Tyler Bray.

Bray went on to win four of his five games as a starter reinvigorating the Volunteer program with his performance.

But all is not well on Rocky Top and Bray has fallen into the trap that is the sophomore slump. According to SEC blogger Edward Aschoff of ESPN:

Simms entered the spring behind Bray, but did well in practices and the spring game, while Bray struggled at times. Simms is still very popular among his teammates and has exceptional leadership skills. He wants his starting spot back and if Bray experiences a sophomore slump, Simms will have to be prepared to carry this team.

And for a team bereft of upperclassmen talent, it has to cross head coach Derek Dooley's mind how much Simms could mean to this team in 2011.

With SEC road games in Gainesville, Tuscaloosa and Fayetteville the Volunteers better hope they have a quarterback they can trust operating under center.

That means Bray will likely have an extremely short leash with Simms on his heels.

Simms has only one year left, Bray has at least three, and if Dooley sees the opportunity to take a chance on a veteran quarterback with something to prove because the season looks ugly early on then don't be shocked if No. 2 gets back on the field again.

It may not be for the full year, it may take a week or two to see what Bray has after the summer work, but Week 3 when Volunteers travel to Gainesville to take on the Gators, Chris Simms could be back as the starting quarterback before, during or after that showdown.

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