Breaking Down Tennessee's QB Recruiting Situation for Class of 2015

The immediate fate of Tennessee's football program rests in the able hands of rising junior quarterback Joshua Dobbs, but it's likely the Volunteers' future at the position arrives with the 2015 recruiting class.

UT head coach Butch Jones recruited three highly regarded signal-callers with different skill sets this year.

Jauan Jennings and Sheriron Jones, two 4-star prospects, are intriguing athletes with huge upsides. Quinten Dormady may be the most college-ready passer of the bunch.

It's uncommon to have that many quarterbacks in one class, but Jones had little choice. With Justin Worley's graduation, the transfer of Riley Ferguson and the fact that UT failed to sign a signal-caller in last year's class, the Vols had become dangerously thin at the position.

That's especially true considering the Vols have been forced to start multiple quarterbacks in 11 of the past 15 seasons dating back to 2000.

Junior backup Nathan Peterman is expected to return too, UT offensive coordinator Mike Bajakian told The Sports Animal radio station (via the Knoxville News-Sentinel's Dustin Dopirak). Given that Peterman hasn't proven dependable, all eyes will be on the freshmen.

Let's examine the trio of youngsters whose inheritance could be a roster as talented as any in the country in a couple years.

Jauan Jennings (6'4", 188 lbs), Murfreesboro, Tennessee, No. 6 Dual-Threat Quarterback

Credit: 247Sports

The biggest wild card of the group may also have the most potential.

A year ago, Jennings wasn't even classified as a quarterback, and many analysts predicted his collegiate position to be anywhere from safety to wide receiver to linebacker. Since then, the Blackman High product remodeled himself as a signal-caller.

With his reclassification as a dual-threat quarterback by 247Sports, it's obvious now people are beginning to see him as a quarterback who's a very good athlete rather than an athlete who plays the position out of necessity.

Jennings finished his senior season for the 11-2 Blaze throwing for 2,155 yards and 22 touchdowns and running for 883 yards and 17 more scores, according to 247Sports' Chad Carson.

With his stellar season came enough accolades to fill a trophy case, but doubters still abound. It's that uncertainty, Jennings told Murfreesboro's Daily News Journal's Tom Kreager, that he isn't a fan of: "I absolutely hate it," Jennings said. "I look back and 247(Sports) finally put me as a dual-threat quarterback. But I also see dual threat, then I see athlete, and I see safety. Why not just dual threat?"

Later, he told Kreager: "I wish people would just give me a chance," Jennings said. "Maybe I can play quarterback."

He'll be given every opportunity in Knoxville, and the best thing for Jennings and the Vols is he's a mid-term enrollee who'll get to go through spring drills and get a head start on learning the offense.

If he can, he'll give the Vols an elite athlete who is a top competitor and has proven he has the work ethic to develop his skills as a passer. If not, he'll excel at another position or transfer to another place where he can play quarterback.

One thing's for certain after the past year: He shouldn't be doubted.

Sheriron Jones (6'2.5", 192 lbs), Moreno Valley, California, No. 7 Dual-Threat Quarterback

Credit: 247Sports

Despite UT having two mid-term freshmen quarterbacks in the fold, the former Florida commitment decided he wanted Knoxville to be his home after decommitting from the Gators following Will Muschamp's ouster.

That throws another hat in the ring to be the man behind center once Dobbs departs.

Also being from the talent-rich recruiting grounds of California where it seems they grow quarterbacks in the fertile soil, Jones has been taught the position by people who've developed plenty of throwers.

Though—like Jennings—Jones needs to get in the weight room and work on adding bulk to his frame as well as adding strength to his throws, he displays nice touch on his passes and can make most passes.

247Sports' director of scouting Barton Simmons told GoVols247's Ryan Callahan (subscription required) that Jones gives UT a different blend of the skill sets it already had committed with Jennings and Dormady:

"

I think he fits well with the other quarterbacks they've got, as well, because I think he's more of the athletic type—maybe not with the upside of Jauan Jennings, but a little bit more polished as a passer. And maybe not the passing chops of Dormady, but more athletic. I think it's just another really nice option within Tennessee's quarterback class that I think allows them to have a really nice setup there.

"

If you're a Vols fan, you've got to like the fact that Sheriron Jones wasn't scared away by the players already in the fold. With an offer sheet that boasted Florida, Arizona, Arizona State and Ole Miss, among others, he had plenty of interest.

He's also said the right things since committing last week, seeming like a humble but confident kid.

Once Jones develops, he has the same combination of speed and throwing ability that has helped Dobbs thrive in Bajakian's system, so it'll be interesting to see how he progresses—especially considering he is the only one of the trio who hasn't enrolled mid-term.

Quinten Dormady (6'4", 200 lbs), Boerne, Texas, No. 13 Pro-Style Quarterback

Credit: 247Sports

When Dormady chose Tennessee over Alabama and others back on June 9, he was seen as the answer to UT's struggles recruiting the position in Butch Jones' early tenure.

Since then, Jennings has emerged as a viable quarterbacking option, and Sheriron Jones was added, but the coaching staff is still enamored with Dormady's ability.

"He is an accurate passer with a quick release who possesses a skill set that will help him excel in our offense," Bajakian said, according to UTSports.com. "As the son of a coach, Quinten has been around the game his entire life and exhibits all the intangibles you look for in a leader and a quarterback."

Despite Dormady's strong arm and sneaky athleticism, he missed his entire junior season with a torn labrum. The shoulder injury showed no ill effects last year, and he should be good to go this spring.

He ran a variation of UT's zone-read offense as a senior, and he enjoyed a stellar season. Instead of going to his senior prom and doing all the things most 17-year-olds like to do, Dormady instead drove 17 hours to enroll at UT.

"I just feel like as a quarterback," he told San Antonio Express-News' Ben Baby, "that swing into spring is huge to get into the offense and that kind of thing."

Rival coach Van Fuschak of Antonian High told Baby in another article that Dormady compared to two quarterbacks he faced when he was at MacArthur High School: Texas Tech's Kliff Kingsbury and New Orleans Saints great Drew Brees.

"Fuschak said Dormady’s bigger than those players, can throw the ball like them and is deceptively quick, too," Baby wrote.

With Dobbs entrenched, the Vols should be able to bring the young guys along slowly, integrate them into the offense and see who rises to the top of the depth chart. Even so, there has to be a sense of urgency due to the lack of depth behind the starter.

The battle between Dormady and Jennings will be extremely intriguing this spring, and when Jones gets on campus, he'll add just another talented prospect to the mix. Throw in 2016 commitment Austin Kendall, and UT appears set for the future.

Now that the Vols are dripping with potential at the position, it should give them something down the road they don't currently have: viable options.

All recruiting information from 247Sports composite rankings, unless otherwise noted. 

Brad Shepard covers SEC football and is the Tennessee Lead Writer for Bleacher Report. Follow Brad on Twitter @Brad_Shepard.