Volunteers switching quarterbacks again

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — It wasn’t easy for Jonathan Crompton to sit on the bench as his Tennessee Volunteers continued to struggle.

After practicing for six weeks as Tennessee’s backup quarterback, the junior will start for the Vols (3-7, 1-5 Southeastern Conference) when they visit Vanderbilt (6-4, 4-3) on Saturday.

“If you play this game, you’ve got to have a tough mind-set, and I think I’m a tough-minded individual. It was tough, but I got through it,” Crompton said.

Coach Phillip Fulmer is looking for any improvement in Tennessee’s woeful offense, which has been the least productive in the coach’s 17-year career.

The Vols are out of bowl contention but are still trying to avoid becoming the only team in school history to have an eight-loss season.

“Jon’s kept his attitude (positive) and worked in practice and in meetings and everything,” Fulmer said. “Obviously he was disappointed. He did all the things he needed to get over that hump.”

Crompton was benched after four starts when he completed only eight of 23 passes for 67 yards and no touchdowns in a 14-12 loss at Auburn.

Fulmer had been pleased with how his replacement, sophomore Nick Stephens, managed the team through four games. It was the last two — losses to South Carolina and Wyoming — that cost him the starting job.

After throwing 106 passes without an interception, Stephens threw his first career interception to Gamecocks cornerback Stoney Woodson, who returned it 68 yards for a touchdown.

Offensive coordinator Dave Clawson didn’t like Stephens’ attitude following the pick and pulled him out for a few drives in favor of Crompton, who couldn’t spark any offensive production either.

The coaches sat Stephens for good when he threw several times into heavy coverage against Wyoming, costing him two picks.

Crompton led Tennessee’s lone scoring drive in the 13-7 loss to the Cowboys and finished 11-of-27 for 91 yards and the touchdown.

“I’m just expecting production,” Fulmer said of the quarterback switch. “Throw it to our guys.”

Stephens’ struggles appear to have cost him more than just the starting job. Fulmer now has freshman B.J. Coleman practicing as the second-string quarterback.

Coleman could still see playing time against Vanderbilt after he completed 22 of 31 passes for 325 yards and two touchdowns in Tennessee’s junior varsity game last week against Hargrave Military Academy.

Fulmer said he’s still concerned about some of Coleman’s fundamental skills but feels the junior varsity game and a scrimmage-like atmosphere in practice have helped him improve.

Coleman, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound Chattanooga native, gives Tennessee more of a running option than does the 6-foot-4, 220-pound Crompton, who has been playing all season with an injured right ankle.

Wide receiver Gerald Jones said he’s not surprised about the quarterback switch.

“We’re just trying to find an answer. It’s been hard for us to be productive on offense. We’re just trying anything,” he said.

Jones said the wide receiver corps meets with whoever the starting quarterback is going to be on Monday, the team’s day off, to spend some extra time practicing together.

The sophomore said it helps because Crompton and Stephens timing is different — Stephens is more of a quick-release than Crompton.

“It doesn’t matter who our quarterback is. We just want him to do his job well this weekend and help us do what we’ve come to do,” Jones said.