Tennessee quarterback Justin Worley looks to pass against Vanderbilt in 2012.INJURY NOTES
Defensive ends Jacques Smith (thumb) and Corey Vereen (knee) and cornerback Riyahd Jones (calf) won’t play against Austin Peay. Smith, could return for next Saturday’s game against Western Kentucky. Linebacker Curt Maggitt has not yet been ruled out of the opener, and the Vols will make a decision on him by Friday after he practices this week.
KNOXVILLE — It’s not a surprise, but Justin Worley will be Tennessee’s starting quarterback when the Volunteers open the season on Saturday against Austin Peay in Knoxville.
First-year coach Butch Jones told the junior from South Carolina on Sunday night, and the depth chart the program released Monday morning confirmed the expected pecking order.
Worley, a three-game starter in 2011 and Tyler Bray’s backup last season, took the majority of the first-team reps this preseason and edged out redshirt freshman Nathan Peterman and the freshman duo of Riley Ferguson and Josh Dobbs.
“It was a very tight race,” Jones said at his weekly noon news conference. “I thought all four individuals did a great job. I think they all really advanced their growth and development throughout the entire course of training camp.