Erik Ainge - Former Tennessee quarterback

Erik Douglas Ainge played quarterback for the University of Tennessee, sharing starting duties with Brent Schaeffer during his freshman season, largely backing up Rick Clausen during his sophomore campaign, and again taking over as starter for the Vols in his junior and senior seasons of 2006 and 2007.

In Erik Ainge's four seasons at Tennessee, the Vols compiled a 34-17 overall record, as well as a 21-11 mark in SEC play, as well as earning two SEC East crowns, appearing in the 2004 and 2007 championship games.

Erik Ainge set a number of school records during his time with the Vols, including a stellar senior season in 2007 in which he set marks for touchdown passes in a game (seven, against Kentucky in a 52-50 win), completions and attempts (325 and 519), and had the second-best season for yardage with 3,522, only behind Peyton Manning's 3,819 in his senior season. His 72 career touchdown passes at Tennessee rank third, behind only Peyton Manning and Casey Clausen.

Erik Ainge was taken in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft by the New York Jets.

Stories that highlight Erik Ainge
Erik Ainge opens up about drug addiction
Report: Erik Ainge enters rehab
Erik Ainge listed as "super No. 3 quarterback" with New York Jets
New York Jets draft Erik Ainge in fifth round
Tennessee, Erik Ainge come up short against eventual national champion LSU
Erik Ainge throws seven touchdowns as Vols outlast Kentucky in four overtimes
Erik Ainge has broken finger, but will play against Cal
David Cutcliffe likes Erik Ainge's new tempo
John Adams: Freshman Erik Ainge deserves to be starter

• 5 Big Things against Arkansas Published 11/11/2011 at 5:56 p.m. 32 comments

  1. Emphasis on True: The last UT freshman quarterback to make his first road start at Arkansas was Jonathan Crompton in 2006.

• 5 Big Things against South Carolina Published 10/28/2011 at 2:56 p.m. 29 comments

  5 BIG THINGS

• Erik Ainge calls audible on 'Morning Wood' Published 10/7/2011 at 3:46 p.m. 12 comments

  Only two days into his debut radio program, former Tennessee quarterback Erik Ainge was forced to audible to a new name for his show.

• Mike Strange: Will Tyler Bray 'rate' as a sophomore? Published 8/30/2011 at 8:52 p.m. 22 comments

  Math always has been a foreign language to me. Calculate a quarterback rating? Right. I might as well tackle Einstein's theory of relativity.

• Mark Wiedmer: Tyler Bray progressing well, UT teammates say Published 8/2/2011 at 6:55 a.m. 18 comments

  KNOXVILLE -- Former Tennessee quarterback Erik Ainge was on a Knoxville radio show a few weeks ago discussing what might be in store for UT sophomore quarterback Tyler Bray this season.

• Former Vol quarterback Erik Ainge calls it a career Published 6/23/2011 at 9:25 p.m. 41 comments

  NEW YORK — Erik Ainge wanted one more chance at football. His body insisted it’s time to move on. The former University of Tennessee quarterback and New York Jets backup told The Associated Press on Thursday night that his playing ...

• Erik Ainge tackling life as recovering addict Published 4/8/2011 at 10:54 a.m. 31 comments

  WELLESLEY, Mass. — Erik Ainge glances at his wrists whenever he needs a quick pick-me-up during recovery from his painful past.

• Joe Biddle: More scandals hit college football Published 3/31/2011 at 10:49 a.m. 13 comments

  College football's Good Ship Lollipop is taking some devastating blows.

• John Adams: With Erik Ainge, it’s what could have been Published 3/30/2011 at 8:09 p.m. 41 comments

  Erik Ainge made positive impressions right away as a freshman quarterback at the University of Tennessee.

• Erik Ainge says he was 'addict' while at UT Published 3/30/2011 at 12:00 a.m. 52 comments

  Former University of Tennessee quarterback Erik Ainge, now a backup quarterback with the NFL's New York Jets, opened up about his ongoing battle with drug and alcohol addiction in an interview with ESPNNewYork.com, which published Ainge's testimonial Tuesday.

• Erik Ainge opens up about ongoing battle with drug addiction Published 3/29/2011 at 2:31 p.m. 121 comments

  Former Tennessee quarterback Erik Ainge, now a backup with the New York Jets, opened up about his ongoing battle with drug and alcohol addiction in an interview with ESPNNewYork.com, which published Ainge’s testimonial Tuesday.

• Mike Strange: Will Bray follow path of similar UT QBs? Published 11/7/2010 at 11:10 p.m. 12 comments

  For Tyler Bray and Tyler Bray fans - the bandwagon is down to standing-room-only reservations - history is on your side.

• John Adams: QB change doesn’t alter Vols’ identity Published 11/1/2010 at 8:34 p.m. 40 comments

  Derek Dooley changed starting quarterbacks Monday. The first-year Tennessee coach moved freshman Tyler Bray ahead of Matt Simms, who had started the first eight games.

• Strange: Third down is defying solutions Published 9/29/2010 at 11:41 p.m. 39 comments

  It's third-and-7 Saturday at Tiger Stadium. Matt Simms steps back and fires a pass to Luke Stocker for a 9-yard gain.

• Tennessee's overtime history Published 9/26/2010 at 12:33 a.m. 13 comments

  Tennessee is 9-2 in overtime games.Sept. 25, 2010: Won 32-29, UAB (2 OT). Denarius Moore 25 pass from Matt Simms.

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