If someone has taken a noticeable step forward in becoming Tennessee’s first starting quarterback of the Josh Heupel era, Heupel isn’t revealing it.
The Volunteers held their second preseason scrimmage on a rainy Tuesday morning inside Neyland Stadium. Heupel described it as the last major scrimmage before the Sept. 2 opener against visiting Bowling Green but not the last piece of development, which certainly includes the position always under a microscope.
“When we see separation and are ready to say something, we’ll do that,” Heupel said in a news conference. “That group has continued to compete and handle things the right way. I like the growth of that group from day to day.”
Michigan graduate transfer Joe Milton, Virginia Tech grad transfer Hendon Hooker and sophomore Harrison Bailey, who started Tennessee’s final three games last year, have been vying to take the inaugural snap of the season. Heupel did not have an update on redshirt sophomore Brian Maurer, who was not spotted at practice last Wednesday and did not compete in last Thursday’s initial scrimmage.
Tuesday’s scrimmage was closed to the media.