When Tennessee football competes in its home opener against ETSU this Saturday, it’ll be a pair of former Power Four quarterbacks at the helm of the Buccaneers’ offense. After playing two transfer quarterbacks in its opening win over Murray State, it seems like ETSU will continue to use the two-quarterback system in Knoxville.
The Buccaneers use both Cade McNamara and Jacolby Criswell at the position. In the 45-17 win to open the season, McNamara completed 12-of-17 passes for 146 yards, one touchdown and an interception. He also ran for 19 yards. Criswell completed 5-of-8 passes for 34 yards. He ran for 46 yards.
“Preparation of who they are and how they play and the subtleties of what we’re doing defensively as a staff, how you want to call it a little bit different,” Heupel said. “But both of them played well (against Murray State).”
McNamara began his career at Michigan, where he spent four seasons. After redshirting as a freshman and playing in four games with one start as a redshirt freshman, he earned the starting job in year three. During that redshirt sophomore year, McNamara started in all 14 games while leading the Wolverines to a 12-2 record. In 2022, he lost the starting job to JJ McCarthy and ultimately transferred.
McNamara spent the next two seasons at Iowa. In 2023, he suffered a season-ending injury after starting the first five games. The Hawkeyes ultimately made the Citrus Bowl and were defeated by Tennessee 35-0 with McNamara still sidelined. He started eight games at Iowa the next season before transferring and ending up at ETSU.
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Competing with McNamara for the starting job is Criswell out of North Carolina. He played with the Tar Heels from 2020-22 while starting in one of his 14 appearances. Heading into the 2023 season, Criswell entered the transfer portal and headed to the SEC. He landed at Arkansas, but only played in four games and started none.
After one season with the Razorbacks, Criswell transferred back to North Carolina. This past season, he played in 11 games and started in nine. With Bill Belichick taking over the program this offseason, he entered the portal and found his way to ETSU.
Kickoff for the game against Tennessee is scheduled for Sept. 6 at 3:30 p.m. at Neyland Stadium. The game will air on ESPN+/SECN+. The Vols won their only game in school history against ETSU 59-3 in 2018 under Jeremy Pruitt.
