Quarterback recruiting has panned out for Vols

"Who will replace four-year starting quarterback Casey Clausen?"

Erik Ainge and Brent Schaeffer eventually answered that question after other options surfaced then disappeared. The injured freshmen won't play Saturday against Vanderbilt but their potential was proven well before both players were forced to the sideline.

Schaeffer, starting the first three games of the season for the Vols, had a 139.53 pass efficiency rating before breaking his collarbone against South Carolina on Oct. 30.

Ainge has been even more impressive. He has passed for 1,452 yards and 17 touchdowns with a 135.89 passing rating. Ainge dislocated his shoulder against Notre Dame on Nov. 6.

Ainge from Hillsboro, Ore., and Schaeffer from Deerfield Beach, Fla., signed with UT in February of 2004. Did the Vols settle for Ainge and Schaeffer or capitalize on good fortune and thorough scouting/recruiting?

When reviewing UT's recruiting in 2003 and 2004, it's hard to find a UT quarterback prospect has shown more potential than Ainge or Schaeffer -- except for one.

UT's quarterback heir apparent at one time appeared to be North Carolina native Chris Leak. He was to sign with the Vols in 2003. In a well-documented recruiting saga, the UT-Leak marriage was over before it began. Leak's metamorphosis from a UT lean to a Florida signee sent the Vols searching for their next quarterback. The clock was ticking and UT was scrambling.

Leak is one of the best young quarterbacks in the nation. He is second in the SEC in pass efficiency despite all of the problems at Florida: a season mired in mediocrity and a lame duck coach.

Leak has led the Gators to the top passing attack in the SEC, averaging 275 yards per game. Georgia is second with 251 yards per game. The Vols average 219 yards passing with Ainge and Schaeffer sharing the spotlight.

UT's affinity for Leak likely cost them any shot at Kyle Wright from California. He signed with Miami and never took an official visit to UT.

Wright has attempted only nine passes, completing five, as a backup to Brock Berlin. Wright's pass efficiency rating is 83.56. Wright's limited role makes it difficult to compare him to Ainge or Schaeffer.

The Vols made a strong run at JaMarcus Russell in 2003, but the Alabama native selected LSU. He has hardly laid the Tigers' quarterback concerns to rest. After redshirting in 2003, Russell has split time with senior Marcus Randal this season.

Neither has been able to solidify a hold on the starting job. Russell's pass efficiency rating is 131.1. He has thrown seven touchdowns and three interceptions.

Richard Kovalcheck was another 2003 possibility. The California native visited Knoxville but decided to stay closer to home and signed with Arizona. After redshirting last year, Kovalcheck's playing time has been limited behind sophomore Kris Heavner.

Kovalcheck has thrown for 800 yards but accuracy has been an issue. He has completed 46 percent of his passes with six interceptions and three touchdowns.

After several recruiting "near misses" in 2003, the Vols signed Bo Hardegree of Jackson, Tenn.

UT coaches have complimented Hardegree's work ethic. He will likely back up Rick Clausen on Saturday.

Still, it took two injuries and a position switch by senior C.J. Leak to bring Hardegree into playing time contention.

For the 2004 class, UT fans were enamored with Brian Brohm from Louisville, Ky. Brohm's polished style led many to believe that he was the prospect most ready to play immediately. With Clausen's impending departure, Brohm seemed like the perfect fit.

Brohm didn't see it that way. He picked Louisville over the Vols.

Brohm has played a limited role for the Cardinals this season, completing 49-of-76 passes for 556 yards. He has thrown two touchdowns, rushed for two more and has one interception.

Brohm may turn out to be a great player but hasn't displayed the same flashes of brilliance that Ainge and Schaeffer have.

Looking for two quarterbacks in the 2004 class, UT thought Missouri native Chase Patton was a lock to sign with the Vols. He was the sure thing -- not quite.

Patton stunned UT's coaching staff by selecting Missouri over the Vols. Patton has not played for the Tigers this season.

The Vols, like most college programs, showed strong interest in Pennsylvania native Chad Henne. He committed to Michigan in August of 2004. Henne was never a realistic prospect for UT. The freshman All-American candidate was set on the Wolverines and never took an official visit to UT.

UT didn't get its first choice in selecting their quarterback of the immediate future. Except for Chris Leak, it's hard to imagine any of UT's quarterback prospects over the last two years having a brighter future than Ainge and Schaeffer.

If neither transfers from UT and North Carolina high school star Jonathan Crompton honors his commitment for 2005, there will not be a better group of young quarterbacks in the nation.

Now, if they can only get healthy.