If you're wondering who will be Tennessee's quarterback, you've come to the right place. I've got the answer.

And I don't mean who will start the season at quarterback. I mean who will finish the season at quarterback.

Erik Ainge is the guy. In fact, it's so obvious I can't understand all the speculation.

I know that C.J. Leak is a mature sixth-year senior with a strong arm. I know what a great athlete freshman quarterback Brent Schaeffer is supposed to be. In fact, he did a wonderful Michael Vick impersonation on a long touchdown run in Wednesday's practice.

But maturity, arm strength and athleticism have nothing to do with it. This is about history.

Every time UT has serious competition for the quarterback position, the eventual winner is the younger guy. And almost every time, the winner is the tall guy.

I wasn't around for the 1986 competition between Jeff Francis and Randy Sanders, who were in the same recruiting class. But I do know that Francis is taller. Sanders never had a chance.

After Francis started for three seasons, everyone assumed Sterling Henton would be the next quarterback. He had performed well as a backup and was a terrific athlete with a strong arm.

Henton started the first six games before losing his job to Andy Kelly, who couldn't move as well or throw as hard and had less experience. But Kelly was younger and taller.

After Kelly started for two and a half seasons, Jerry Colquitt and Heath Shuler competed for the quarterback job in 1992. This time, youth prevailed over height. Although Colquitt was slightly taller, he lost the competition to the younger Shuler.

Colquitt backed up Shuler for the next two seasons and was expected to be the No. 1 quarterback in 1994. And he was the No. 1 quarterback - for seven plays. When he suffered a season-ending knee injury in the season opener, the Vols turned to Todd Helton, who was later injured himself.

Then the competition came down to two freshmen: Peyton Manning and Branndon Stewart. It was no contest. Manning was several inches taller.

There was no real competition to succeed Manning. Everyone knew the job would go to his backup, Tee Martin, who started for two seasons.

When Martin departed, the competition was between Joey Mathews, A.J. Suggs and Casey Clausen. Mathews started the 2000 season opener, and Suggs started the next four games.

But the eventual winner was Clausen, who, of course, was younger and taller. He started for the rest of 2000 and the next three seasons as well.

Leak likely will open the season as UT's starting quarterback. He has overcome a serious injury, transferred from Wake Forest, bided his time and improved in his management of the offense, according to his coaches.

Unfortunately, the 6-4 Leak has only grown older, not taller. So that leaves it up to the young guys, Ainge and Schaeffer, both of who arrived at UT with outstanding high school credentials.

Ainge has a strong arm and a quick release. Schaeffer could give UT its best running threat at the position since Martin.

But as I pointed out, this isn't about running and throwing. It's about youth and height.

In a battle between two freshmen, the tie will go to the taller. Ainge is 6-6; Schaeffer is 6-2.

It's not even close.

John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knews.com.