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Nick Stephens comes from a small town in Texas. He's played football since the 7th grade. However, the sophomore that is a contender for the starting quarterback position at the University of Tennessee had only one year of varsity football in high school before coming to UT. Watch »
From the shoulders down, Nick Stephens and Jonathan Crompton are quite similar quarterbacks.
So as the two battle for Tennessee's starting job Saturday against Northern Illinois (TV: Pay-per-view, 7 p.m.), the competition will have a lot to do with what's going on between the ears.
"It's a legitimate competition for the number one position," UT coach Phillip Fulmer said. "Because physically they both can throw the football, it's the mental part of the game and how they compete."
Stephens said that's precisely where's he improved most since the season began.
"Just being smart and knowing the playbook even more," said Stephens, who was 1-for-2 with a 42-yard completion to tight end Brandon Warren against UAB in the only game action of his career. "You can always get better every day, whether it's checking down quicker (from the primary receiver) or getting the ball out of your hands faster or being smarter with the football."
Speaking to the Knoxville Quarterback Club on Monday, UT offensive coordinator Dave Clawson said Stephens has a quick release and called the third-year sophomore a "gun slinger."
According to coaches, Crompton has performed well in practice. Carrying that over to games has been a problem.
Crompton ranks last in the SEC in passing efficiency among the 14 quarterbacks who meet the NCAA's ranking requirements. He's also outside the top-100-rated passers in the country after completing eight of his 23 passes against Auburn for 67 yards.
Saturday's loss marked the first time in his five games as a starter that Crompton hadn't thrown an interception. However his completion percentage (34.8 percent) was the lowest of his career aside from a 0-for-4 performance in mop-up duty against Vanderbilt in 2006. It also was the fourth time in the six games in which he's taken the majority of snaps that Crompton failed to complete at least half his passes.
Several times against Auburn, Crompton was out of sync with receivers. While it's not all Crompton's fault, Fulmer said, a lot of the miscommunications stem from the junior's difficulty finding anyone but the primary receiver.
"One was a read-route that was misread," Fulmer said. "A couple of them were balls he threw away not to give up a sack. A couple of them were just not good throws or not finding the second and third receiver - second receiver in most cases.
"He wasn't finding his second receiver very well and when he did, he didn't throw it as accurately as we would like to have him throw. That's where we are."
Following Sunday night's practice, Crompton did not elaborate on his play much more than he did after the game Saturday, when he repeatedly said he needed to watch film before evaluating his performance.
"Obviously we didn't win the game, so it wasn't good enough," he said Sunday when asked to evaluate his performance against Auburn. "That's pretty much all there is to it."
Crompton was similarly vague when asked if he missed secondary receivers at times against the Tigers.
"It all depends on the situation - the down and distance, the pressure, something like that," he said. "It all depends on that."
Tennessee's hopes for salvaging the season depend largely on improved play from the quarterback. After Saturday's game, the Vols travel to No. 11 Georgia and host Mississippi State and No. 2 Alabama before playing at South Carolina on Nov. 1.
Regardless of who the starter is this week, both will play. Receiver Gerald Jones, who should see some extended time at quarterback this week in UT's G-Gun package, said the offense will be behind whoever is under center.
"Whoever Coach decides to put out there at quarterback, we're going to ride with him to the end, until the wheels fall off," Jones said. "I've got all the confidence in Nick, B.J. (Coleman) and Crompton. It don't matter who's out there, we're going to play our hearts out."
But after juggling two quarterbacks for much of the 2005 season, Fulmer doesn't want this competition to drag on any longer than it must.
"Hopefully we'll come up with a clear-cut starter," Fulmer said. "Both of them will play some. We may make an evaluation off of that. Really neither one of those guys in 2005 just took the job, either. Hopefully one of these guys will."
Jesse Smithey contributed to this report.
Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.
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Comments » 276
BillsBrother writes:
Gerald Jones should be in the mix. Maybe the old option will work since we find it so difficult to complete a pass.
tnvol27#546179 writes:
first.....lets go Flower Mound!! Hand the damn ball off...dont stare down your primary, be a leader. Lets get this thing going!!!
Mansonlamps writes:
Here's to Jon Crompton's future as the nation's #1 clip board holder.
soccervol writes:
Hope the vols lose this weekend - every game we lose, the closer we are to a new coach.
you can't honestly think things are going to get any better??? We are 12-14 in the SEC and 3-9 against top 10 teams since the loss to Auburn in the SEC championship game. We haven't done anything in 10 years; haven't had a heisman hopeful since Manning (i guess you have to be a good team to be considered); we haven't been to a BCS game in 10 years; haven't won a SEC championships in 10 years; sub par recruiting classes; 4 straight losses to Florida and Auburn; 2-5 against UGA in last 7 years; need me to keep going?????
Can you remember UGA and Arkansas fans storming the field after beating us?? We are no longer the elite program we use to be.
Just look what new coaches have done for the SEC....
GreerVol22 writes:
Crompton just can't seem to find the open man...well, call me silly, but its kinda important...
GiveHimSix1387 writes:
Start Nick Stephens
WhitePineVol77 writes:
Mr Crompton needs to be seated and give Nick Stephens a chance. I am still dumbfounded that he got no playing time against Auburn. I hope we can beat NIU this weekend.
DennisVols writes:
I don't have a clue as to what has gotten into Crompton's head. I saw him play against LSU a couple of years ago and this years version is nothing like what I saw then.
The fact is though at this moment in time he is not ready to be the starting qb.
I know it is easy to see open receivers from your recliner but some of the plays were just too obivious that he missed and a lot of his throws are just plain bad.
Got to make this change and got to make it now. If we had just a good qb performance through the 1st 4 games at a min. we are 3-1 right now.
Cha Cha Cha Changes
a10acfan1 writes:
Put in the Gunslinger
Bigger_Al writes:
I'd be for getting Eric Berry involved, except for the little detail about him being our best defensive player.
Would like to see us direct snap to Arian Foster with Monterio lined up next to him. (Maybe he wouldn't fumble a direct snap?)
rsarazen#221200 writes:
Gerald Jones should be our QB period. For those who can remember, Condredge Holloway was the most exciting football player I've ever had the privilege of watching. He was a good passer with excellent feet and speed; more important he had a great mind for the game. Gerald Jones could be the next Condredge only if our coach would accept the obvious and realize Crompton doesn't deserve to play because he simpley waited his turn. Play the best athletes for crying out loud!
FlaVol2 writes:
Give Stephens a start Coach.
wkjq#213863 writes:
I'm not one of these guys who tells others they aren't true fans, however in this case, I don't think any true fan ever hopes for a loss for any reason.
tnmantravel#531151 writes:
their are good reasons jc beat out the other two qbs this past spring and summer...what they are i don't know...but the reasons must be there and obvious ones to the coaches... :-(
Madkels writes:
Crompton was similarly vague when asked if he missed secondary receivers at times against the Tigers.
"It all depends on the situation - the down and distance, the pressure, something like that," he said. "It all depends on that."
WHAT?
Instead of practicing to be a "quarterback", Crompton sounds like he is practicing to be a congressman or democratic Presidential candidate.
Bigger_Al writes:
Also, agree with the 2005 comment. Both of those QB's played so badly at times that there was not a choice but to pull them.
Madkels writes:
Could he have a picture of .......?
wkjq#213863 writes:
isn't it sad when we have to HOPE for a win against NIU.
yeavols#228407 writes:
No reason to hope for the VOLS to lose..they do that on their own..Secondly, WANTED: NEW COACHING STAFF..GET THE HEADLINES RIGHT!
chattownvol writes:
Our program is dying. We are the next Nebraska, Notre Dame, Florida State, etc. See you in ten years top ten.
whistlinwingman writes:
I just want to see something different! 4 games in and it's the same phooey each game except it gets worse and worse each game. I don't care if it's Gerald Jones, Nick Stevens, BJ Coleman, or another Clausen. This is embarassing. I promise you it cannot get any worse.
And CUT CROMPTON off from the media. He is no longer embarassing himself, he is embarassing the whole university with his arrogance and wise cracks.
orange71 writes:
leave the player/qb alone you sob's. it's fulmeeridiot who makes the moves.
ravensearay writes:
You know, you guys, NIU has a pretty decent team. This will be no cakewalk. But it will be a good test of where this team wants to go. I am as true blue as you can get but I am going to watch with baited breath the outcome of this game..
Ironcity writes:
If Crompton doesn't understand there is a problem then there is no way he can correct it. If it comes down to whats happening between the ear's then UT's probably has already made the change. When your ranked 14th in a twelve team league you don't shouldn't need to see the film to understand your game needs fixed.
PreventUT writes:
Against my better judgement, I've decided to toss a bone to the wolves wanting Fulmer's head - Bud Foster.
Defense, Special Teams, recruiting connections in VA, and a tough SOB to boot. Aren't those the job requirements a lot of you demand?
Anyway...
PreventUT writes:
Sorry, I forgot - he does more with less, too.
vol1994 writes:
Is anyone interested in buying two tickets for the game this week? section x3.
whistlinwingman writes:
I like your thinking! That is a name that hasn't been threw out there. I bet he'd have the testicular fortitude to make it at UT too.
vol_chaz writes:
I'm thinking that "workin' like heck", can't solve what's lacking between the ears....Start Stephens....
BigVolinCarolina writes:
Alrighty folks...how many people are going to show up this weekend? It's hard to imagine anymore than 75,000...the student section will surely be empty since students now have to pay out-of-pocket for games...
If we lose to Northern Illinois, there might just be less than 60,000 for each of the remaining home games....
Any thoughts on the marketing ploys that the athletic department will use to try and fill seats the rest of this season?
gohawks1 writes:
Well, this one's a no-brainer. And I mean that literally, from what I have seen in the first few games.....
DennisVols writes:
Crompton was the favorite going into spring camp based on experience. No way did Stephens or BJ get the kind of looks Crompton got with the starters because there was a new system being installed and coaches have to go with who they felt was their best option at that time.
They kept Crompton protected all during practice and scrimmages and didn't have a clue as to how he would react under the presure of being the starter and in live situations. Fulmer is loyal to a fault when he picks a starter in giving them every opportunity to straighten out their problems.
This however is totally mental in Crompton's case. This is not Psychology 301 it is UT Football. Clawson's new system has been reduced to "keep it simple stupid" to try and help Crompton and it didn't work.
Time for a change. We need Stephens to step up and take control.
murrayvol writes:
From the neck up is another story.
orange_n_blood writes:
Crompton is outside of the top 100 QBs in the nation out of 119 D1 teams. I mean come on should we even make N. Stephens compete with this JV player, who should never have received the nod to begin with. I think Stephens should be announced as the starter tomorrow so we can all stop having to wish and complain about crapton(stole the last name from another poster, sorry). I mean Fulmer has got to make this change. I can't remember UT ever having the worst QB in the league and almost in the nation. What happened to the mighty BIG ORANGE?
gohawks1 writes:
What the heck is a competiton?
You might want to work on that sub-heading, Mr. Edwards.
Urbiewerecomingtogetyou writes:
Alzheimer's ?
PreventUT writes:
Oh, man...all the Crompton portmanteau is starting to get to me. I swore the title read, "Let the Crompetition Begin"
mpm80#1357758 writes:
our coaches just all of a sudden got stupid
gohawks1 writes:
Nah, mpm80, they worked like heck to get that way.
rockytoptilidie writes:
I've played a lot of sports in my days, and I'll be honest - the addage "practice great, play great" don't always hold true. I've known many players who were GREAT practice players and couldn't do anything when it mattered and vice versa. I HAVE to believe this is the case with Crompton. And I HAVE to hope that Nick Stephens (who obviously isn't practicing as well as Crompton) plays better than he practices.
I understand not going to Stephens sooner (as bad as it hurts me as a fan) because by doing so, you effectively lose Crompton forever. I think he's tough, but I doubt what is between his ears.
I'm afraid Nunes is going to cause a chain reaction (his decommit along with our crappy play.
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
what stupid nonsense such suggestions to give Berry a shot at QB--------with other pure QBs who have been coached as such there is no rational reason at all to think such--its pure Berry worship and nothing else-------sure hes a real good player but your God missed some tackles himself Sat most expecially on that last Auburn possession when the Aubi broke his tackle and got about 10 more critical yards that led to the final game ending first down when Willingham also missed a tackle on the next play
servinggrant writes:
Heres what 3 million dollars a year will get ya folks:
Crompton ranks last in the SEC in passing efficiency among the 14 quarterbacks who meet the NCAA's ranking requirements. He's also outside the top-100-rated passers in the country after completing eight of his 23 passes against Auburn for 67 yards
-"Obviously we didn't win the game, so it wasn't good enough," he said Sunday when asked to evaluate his performance against Auburn. "That's pretty much all there is to it." ~ Phil Fulmer
Wow, only in America
Id like to thank the University of Tennessee for allowing me to enjoy College Football from 1985-2007. Oh well...........
DennisVols writes:
In case you did not know.
Berry was an outstanding qb in HS here in GA and was recurited as such by several schools. Fulmer even promised him an opportunity to play offense when recuriting him.
So thinking he could become a qb at UT is not far fetched or worship of any kind. The kid was a standout at several positions.
AlphaVol writes:
If I were Lucy and Crompton were Charlie Brown, I'd hang my "The doctor is in" sign out and tell him this:
I think you're playing with fear...fear of making big mistakes (like an interception). It's okay to fear that, of course, but it may be that your fear is way out of balance. You're over compensating and I think it's costing us games. I also think you may be someone who appears over confident on the outside in order to compensate for a deep lack of self-confidence on the inside.
Finally I'd tell him "5 cents please!"
bobbarbilly writes:
Bring on Reno Hightower and Jack Dundee.
volunteer_cowboy writes:
jim bob cooter
kdaff51 writes:
Hey now.....No one can touch "The Cooter Man". The Heisman winner of clipboard holders!
AlpharettaVol writes:
Crompton has always been a good practice player. It's the game itself where he has problems. You need to evaluate Stephens in a game. We already know what Crompton can do (or not do) in a game.
tenuscvol writes:
Nick should be announced as the starter now. There should be no swapping out with Crompton. As long as Stephens plays fairly well (let him get hit more than just a few times and let him make a few mistakes) and if his play is fairly good then he should get the whole game. If he is that bad then bring on the third guy. Crompton had his chance(s) and these other guys need to use this game to get the future sorted out once and for all and lets get on with the season. If Stephens works hard and tries his best and continues to improve and loves UT in the process then we got his back regardless of the W's. Crompton seems for forget the big orange family and his impact to its happiness. I do beleive he has been given the benifit of the doubt and unless some miraculas trasistion occurs the Big Orange family has had enough of the Jon experiment.
volunteer_cowboy writes:
if only his dad would of taken him back to north carolina with him when Sanders Resigned/ got fired, we wouldnt be here now!!! Do you guys remember?
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