Maurer missing from practice

MDR

Administrator
Staff member
This has honestly been a long time coming. The previous staff would have likely moved him to receiver this off-season from some info I have gathered. As I mentioned to Butchna yesterday, Maurer learned over the weekend that he was not a factor in the race. It wasn’t a well-kept secret as I found out about it Sunday evening. We will see what happens with him next. Nothing would be shocking at this stage. I think Brian has a really nice skill set, but I do believe he could use a fresh start. He’s not in the transfer portal yet, but I would expect sooner than later at this stage. I have been monitoring that front since Sunday.
 

yourstruly23

New member
This has honestly been a long time coming. The previous staff would have likely moved him to receiver this off-season from some info I have gathered. As I mentioned to Butchna yesterday, Maurer learned over the weekend that he was not a factor in the race. It wasn’t a well-kept secret as I found out about it Sunday evening. We will see what happens with him next. Nothing would be shocking at this stage. I think Brian has a really nice skill set, but I do believe he could use a fresh start. He’s not in the transfer portal yet, but I would expect sooner than later at this stage. I have been monitoring that front since Sunday.
Is he hell bent on staying a QB, or open to WR?
 

MDR

Administrator
Staff member
At times last fall, Tennessee was so thin because of COVID issues that he had to move to WR just for guys to get reps in. The last staff was considering the move if he didn’t win the job in the spring, obviously, this is before they were fired. I’ve heard mixed reviews about him being open to it, but I would say at this time, he’s not open to it. Tenenseee is deep there, and he would probably be further down the depth chart than being fourth at QB
 

MDR

Administrator
Staff member
Why switch positions only to sit on a deeper bench?
Exactly. The issue now is that he has to sit out until next season with the transfer rules. Again, this is why you take a Joe Milton if you’re Tennessee. Hendon Hooker is a graduate transfer and could do that again if he chose to after the season. Bailey could leave. Milton cannot leave again until he completes a degree. It’s a real balancing act at this position with the portal.
Here’s a scenario; Milton wins the job this fall, Bailey decides to transfer after the season, Hooker transfers again, and Maurer is already gone. That leaves you with Tayven Jackson and Joe Milton, unless Milton has a strong enough year to get some draft buzz.
Now if Bailey or Hooker win the job, then the scenarios are obviously different. But there is a lot to think about there.
 

butchna

Member
Exactly. The issue now is that he has to sit out until next season with the transfer rules. Again, this is why you take a Joe Milton if you’re Tennessee. Hendon Hooker is a graduate transfer and could do that again if he chose to after the season. Bailey could leave. Milton cannot leave again until he completes a degree. It’s a real balancing act at this position with the portal.
Here’s a scenario; Milton wins the job this fall, Bailey decides to transfer after the season, Hooker transfers again, and Maurer is already gone. That leaves you with Tayven Jackson and Joe Milton, unless Milton has a strong enough year to get some draft buzz.
Now if Bailey or Hooker win the job, then the scenarios are obviously different. But there is a lot to think about there.
He does have the unused redshirt. So if he goes to a program with an established starter but maybe in his last season, then if he does his homework he could be in an advantageous situation. As for the remaining QBs, Heupel doesn’t seem to be into engineering or politics. He’s evaluating and putting his best QB on the field. “I just want the best QB playing” is the emergent tired cliche of this past offseason, but it applies. They brought in the walkon UCF QB for emergency depth and for teaching the system most likely, but the portal will always be full of those betting on themselves. Ideally Jackson redshirts next season and immerses in the system, but that was the gameplan for Dillon Gabriel once upon a time.
 
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