As he made his way to a seat in his Circuits and Electro Mechanical Components class, his fellow classmates rose to their feet and applauded.
Captured and shared multiples times via Instagram, the moment provided the best example of the icon Joshua Dobbs has become since taking over as Tennessee’s starting quarterback.
It was a moment, however, that almost never came to fruition.
When UT head coach Butch Jones and his staff were hired in December 2012, the departure of then-quarterback Tyler Bray to the NFL forced the Vols to add a second signal caller to the 2013 recruiting class just two months before National Signing Day.
The search officially ended when Jones visited Dobbs’ Alpharetta High School to recruit another teammate. But Dobbs, who was committed to Arizona State at the time, quickly gained their attention.
“What I remember is watching a video of every throw he made during the season, and he had a very high completion percentage to the point where when I was watching the video, I thought it was a highlight video,” offensive coordinator Mike Bajakian said. “Then I realized that it was every throw from his senior year in high school.”
Suffice it to say, the time spent flipping the 6-foot-3, 216-pound quarterback from the Sun Devils to the Vols paid off.
In last week’s contest against South Carolina, Dobbs became the first player in UT history to throw for 300 yards and rush for another 100, as he led Tennessee to a 45-42 overtime win. The thrilling victory arrived only after Dobbs brought UT back from a 14-point deficit late in the fourth quarter.
But just like his commitment to the Vols, that South Carolina performance only came because of Tennessee’s necessity for someone under center.
Originally set to sit out the season and redshirt, Dobbs’ name never popped into the quarterback discussion until senior Justin Worley’s season came to an end because of a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder.
But that looming redshirt and a constant spot on UT’s scout team never changed Dobbs’ demeanor.
“When I thought I was being redshirted, I still prepared as if I was the starter,” Dobbs said. “My mindset was to get better. I wanted to improve my timing and improve my mechanics. I still treated those reps as game reps and they obviously helped me out.”
That mindset in practice has helped Dobbs put up 493 yards and four touchdowns on 42-of-72 passing, which shows a marked improvement from his aerial assault last season when he threw two touchdowns and six interceptions in five games for UT.
In those five 2013 contests – four of which he started – he averaged only 139 passing yards per game compared to the 246.5 yards he is averaging through two games this season.
“I think that’s an accumulation of repetitions in practice and doing it over and over again,” Jones said. “That’s a byproduct of how far he has come.”
But it has been what Dobbs’ mobility has brought to the Vols’ offense that has helped his popularity soar.
On only 43 carries this season, Dobbs has already became UT’s second leading rusher on the season with 241 yards. His three rushing touchdowns also tie for the team lead.
His legs have also helped a struggling offensive line gain a newfound confidence. After giving up 30 sacks in the Vols first seven contests of the season, the offensive line has only allowed two sacks since Dobbs’ insertion under center.
“He’s a leader, just like all of our quarterbacks,” freshman running back Jalen Hurd said. “With him having that run threat, you really have to respect me and then respect him as well. It’s just a different look, but he can pass as well.
“His game (against South Carolina) was outstanding and for him to do that, it really helps out the entire team.”
Dobbs, however, wants to be viewed as an all-around quarterback.
“I wouldn’t say I’m a runner,” Dobbs said. “I run when there is a play that needs to be made. If people are covered downfield, I’m going to make a play, get a first down and get out of bounds.
“I can run, but I’m not a running quarterback. I can pass, I can run, I can do whatever it takes for our team to win.”
Whether it is because of his arm or his legs, there is no doubt that Dobbs has become the fan favorite in UT’s offense.
But he’s not paying attention to any of that. His mind is elsewhere.
“When you play quarterback here and you are successful, you get a lot of attention,” Dobbs said. “But either way, you just have to stay focused on the goal. We’re at four wins, and we still need to get two more to be bowl eligible so our minds are definitely focused on that.”
