One week after losing the starting quarterback job, Justin Worley is expected to be back in the Tennessee huddle when the Vols host South Alabama Saturday at 12:21 p.m.
“As of right now, Justin Worley is the starter,” UT coach Butch Jones said Monday at his weekly press conference inside Neyland Stadium.
Worley replaced struggling redshirt freshman Nathan Peterman late in the first half of UT’s 31-17 loss at Florida on Saturday and played the whole second half.
Jones revealed that Peterman is expected to miss at least four weeks of action after undergoing surgery on Monday for a hand injury suffered against the Gators.
Unless true freshmen Riley Ferguson and Joshua Dobbs emerge quickly, the job is once again Worley’s – as it was for UT’s first three games and the second half of the Florida game.
The decision to grant Peterman the start against Florida came after an evaluation of UT’s practices leading up to the game and was met with disappointment by Worley, a junior with playing experience dating back to the 2011 season.
“It hurts being the starter for the first three games and knowing that I wasn’t doing enough for their liking,” Worley said, following Saturday’s game. “But once again, I knew I had to be in it mentally.”
Worley completed 10 of 23 attempts for 149 yards, one touchdown and a pair of late interceptions in his duty as Peterman’s replacement on Saturday.
“It hurts when you’re not the starter,” Jones said of Worley’s reaction to his brief benching. “But the way he managed his business, he got his opportunity. He didn’t feel sorry for himself. He went in there and he was leading.”
The Rock Hill, S.C. native is 3-3 as a starter in his career. He started three games during the 2011 season in place of an injured Tyler Bray.
Jones reiterated that UT’s quarterbacks need to avoid “catastrophic plays” and cited an attempt by Worley to throw the ball out of bounds against the Gators that wound up as an interception.
But overall, Jones said he was pleased with the response of his junior signal caller.
“There’s a lot on that young man’s plate,” Jones said. “I think we forget that these are still 17- to 22-year-old student athletes. These aren’t professional football players.”
Listed as dual backups behind Worley on this week’s depth chart are Ferguson and Dobbs. Neither has seen collegiate game action.
Dobbs did not accompany the team to Florida, and although Ferguson did make the trip, Jones said the decision was made because of travel limitations within the SEC.
“Absolutely no indication of who’s ahead of each other,” Jones said.
Dobbs switched his commitment from Arizona State late to sign with the Vols in April. Ferguson, meanwhile, remained committed to UT through the coaching switch from Derek Dooley to Jones.
Saturday’s game against Sun Belt Conference opponent South Alabama is UT’s last against a non-conference opponent on the year. The Vols then play three straight games against top-15 opponents.
“We have to do a great job of getting them ready to play mentally and then physically as well,” Jones said of the freshmen quarterbacks.
Added Jones: “Just like anything in our program they are going to have to earn their spot.”
