As Tennessee looks to narrow its quarterback competition between Harrison Bailey, Joe Milton, Hendon Hooker and Brian Maurer, coach Josh Heupel has explained how it will unfold leading up to the season opener.

“I anticipate us having a starter during the course of Week 1 for sure,” Heupel said at a local media day on Tuesday, “that doesn’t mean the other guys won’t have opportunities to share roles. I think it’s the challenge for every player to earn the trust of the coaching staff and show that they’re going to compete on a championship level.”

Heupel said quarterbacks are like other positions in that they dwindle reps as trust is earned. Heupel was also asked about a two quarterback platoon.

“For the quarterbacks, they’re going to earn their role as they go through training camp,” he said. “I anticipate us having a starter (name for week 1) but doesn’t mean others won’t have an opportunity to play. What that looks like is dictated by the performance over the course of training camp and where you feel like collectively and individually that group lies. If you look at track record, we’ve typically had a starter, but guys have had situational roles that have played a big part of our success offensively.”

He said he didn’t think the success of one position is dictated by one player.

“I think you’ve got to continually develop that room,” he said.