You probably shrugged when Tennessee football announced the signing of backup Colorado quarterback Ryan Staub in January. I was shrugging right along with you.
The signing might have seemed just as inconsequential even after a local judge ruled that UT quarterback Joey Aguilar shouldn’t be eligible for the 2026 season.
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A backup quarterback from a nine-loss team that ranked 116th nationally in points per game? That wouldn’t register on the excitability meter.
Never mind the loss of Aguilar. The Vols still had two heralded recruits in redshirt freshman George MacIntyre and freshman Faizon Brandon. Sure, they’re inexperienced, which is why I put the Vols near the bottom of the SEC when ranking conference quarterbacks for the upcoming season.
That ranking was based on what they had accomplished, not what they might achieve as a starting quarterback.
I filed Staub under “panic insurance” for a coaching staff that would twitch uncontrollably at the sight of a depth chart that listed only two quarterbacks.
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And then, I thought about Rick Clausen.
His brother Casey was Tennessee’s starting quarterback for four seasons (2000-03). Rick began his career at LSU but transferred to UT after the 2002 season, then had to sit out the 2003 season.
The coaches probably viewed him as insurance. Why wouldn’t they? They already had two quarterbacks whom they deemed talented enough to start as freshmen.
Tennessee began that season with Eric Ainge and Brent Schaeffer alternating at quarterback. Ainge eventually proved to be the best of the two and became the starter. But both quarterbacks were injured before the Vols reached the regular-season finish line.
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Suddenly, Clausen became a valuable commodity. And he was up to the task. He passed for 349 yards in a 37-31 victory over Kentucky that lifted Tennessee to the top of the SEC East.
In the past 25 years, UT has played in two conference championship games. If not for a third-string quarterback, it would have played in only one.
Like Clausen, Staub starred as a California high school quarterback. When he signed with Colorado, some thought he eventually would be the Buffs’ starter.
Subbing for an injured Shedeur Sanders, Staub flashed his potential in the last game of the 2023 season when he completed 17-of-24 passes for 195 yards in a 23-17 loss to Utah. He might have been the quarterback successor to Sanders if former Tennessee quarterback Kaidon Salter hadn’t transferred from Liberty to Colorado in 2025.
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Staub began last season as the third-string quarterback behind Salter and five-star freshman Lewis. However, he earned another shot at the starting job after playing well in a reserve role against Delaware. He completed seven of 10 passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns.
He started the next game against Houston and completed 19-of-35 passes for 204 yards and one touchdown but also threw two interceptions. Salter regained the starting job the following week, and Staub played sparingly after that.
I realize that’s probably more than you wanted to know about Colorado football. But I’m just pointing out that Staub could be a more significant transfer than I first guessed when the Vols signed a third-string quarterback.
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Here’s what Colorado coach Deion Sanders said about Staub after the Delaware game: “He has been in this system for three years now and he is just unflappable. Some guys just have that thing about them that you want to help them become successful. And he is that kid.
“I saw (against Delaware) what I have been seeing at practice for the last few years. Like this is who he is. This is who he has always been. He just needed opportunity. That is all he needed.”
Maybe, Staub will get an opportunity at UT, too.
Rick Clausen did.
John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Could Ryan Staub be next Rick Clausen for Tennessee football?
