The biggest question mark for the vast majority of SEC teams heading into 2014 involves the quarterback position and that is certainly the case at Tennessee.
We might be a little closer to having some clarity on the Vols' situation, however, as Butch Jones told the media on Monday that he was close to naming a starter.
"I'm going to go back and watch the film this morning, a little bit (more) tonight," Jones told reporters. "But I expect, if things go the way they have been going, we will name a starting quarterback at some point this week.
"I'm not going to set any time frames. If it happens, it happens. There are no deadlines. We have time. But again, I think we are getting closer to a decision in regard to our quarterback position."
Senior Justin Worley and sophomore Joshua Dobbs are considered the leading candidates for the starting spot. Redshirt sophomore Nathan Peterman is also in the mix.
The 6-foot-4, 220-pound Worley started seven games for the Vols last season before injuring his thumb and sitting out the rest of the season. Dobbs took over the starting job as a true freshman, throwing for 695 yards and two touchdowns in four starts.
No matter who is under center for Tennessee, they'll have some big early tests as the Vols' non-conference slate includes Utah State in the opener and a tough road game at Oklahoma.
Here are nine other things you need to know from Monday's training camps:
- Wake Forest ended its quarterback battle as new head coach Dave Clawson gave the starting job to true freshman John Wolford on Monday. The 6-foot-1, 205-pounder from Florida enrolled early at the school in the spring, and beat out Tyler Cameron and Kevin Sousa for the position to become the first true freshman quarterback to start the opener for the Demon Deacons since 1974. "Not just last night in the scrimmage, but consistently through camp (Wolford) has executed the offense at the highest level," Clawson said after practice. "I think he gives us our best opportunity to win football games."
- Charlie Strong has plenty of things on his fix list as new coach of the Texas Longhorns. Among them is to revive some of toughness that was seemingly lost near the end of former coach Mack Brown's tenure. To that end, Strong put his players on the spot for some spirited one-on-one drills, from which some video made its way to the internet.
- In a bit of a surprise, Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo said linebacker Maika Polamalu -- cousin of Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu -- has returned to the team a week after retiring due to medical reasons. "Everything medically was cleared so Maika decided to come back and we're happy that he's back," Niumatalolo said. "The medical people cleared him. This is a decision he and his family have come to and I support them wholeheartedly." Polamalu is projected to start this season at inside linebacker for the Midshipmen.
- Sophomore Adam Breneman, part of a deep tight end group at Penn State, is out indefinitely with an undisclosed injury, the school said. Breneman -- who missed his senior year of high school with a torn ACL -- had three TD catches as a true freshman as Penn State's third tight end last season. Jesse James and Kyle Carter are the top two at the position and both are among the most-talented players at the position in the Big Ten. Still, if healthy, Breneman will see ample time this fall for a Nittany Lions offense expected to use a lot of two tight end sets.
- Duke senior tight end Braxton Deaver, who was held out of practice as a sort of punishment by coach David Cutcliffe, is back on the field for the Blue Devils. He led all ACC tight ends with 46 receptions last fall, and could end up being even more important this season because Duke has no clear-cut No. 2 wide receiver behind Jamison Crowder. Still, while he is back on the field, he won't be in pads for a few days as he gets re-acclimated.
- Linebacker/running back Myles Jack was kicked out of UCLA's morning practice by Jim Mora after getting into an altercation with a teammate. It wasn't all bad for Jack on Monday as he ended up ranked 16th in CFB 24/7's list of best college football players.
- Bad, bad news for Pac-12 favorite Oregon as the team found out starting left tackle Tyler Johnstone is out for the year after suffering a torn ACL. He injured his knee during the Alamo Bowl victory over Texas but was cleared by doctors to practice with the team for training camp. Johnstone apparently felt a pop and tests revealed the torn ligament. It's up to junior Andre Yruretagoyena to protect Marcus Mariota's blind side now.
- Jim McElwain appears to be locked in at Colorado State training camps until 2018 after the school announced he had signed an extension on Monday. The new deal increases the former Alabama assistant's salary to $1.5 million per season and sets his initial buyout at $7.5 million if he were to leave after this season.
- San Jose State debuted some new matte yellow helmets during Monday's practice. They are ... interesting.
Follow Bryan Fischer on Twitter @BryanDFischer.
