Tennessee has a potential major issue heading into Jeremy Pruitt’s first spring on Rocky Top — a lack of experienced quarterbacks. In addition to that, the QBs the program does have on the roster may not even fit into the incoming offensive system.

With only two scholarship quarterbacks scheduled to on the roster this spring (redshirt sophomore Jarrett Guarantano and sophomore Will McBride), Tennessee has been actively exploring its options at the game’s most important position. Earlier this week, SDS reported that ECU graduate transfer Gardner Minshew was among the QBs the Vols have reached out to this offseason. Minshew is set to visit Alabama this weekend.

According to Bruce Feldman of Sports Illustrated, Tennessee will also be hosting a QB this weekend.

Stanford graduate transfer Keller Chryst is set to visit Knoxville this weekend, according to Feldman. If the former Stanford QB likes what he sees, it’s worth noting that Chryst won’t be eligible to transfer to Tennessee until after spring practice. That wouldn’t be the case for Minshew, however.

Feldman reports that Minshew would be eligible to join Tennessee for its upcoming spring practice if he picks the Vols over Alabama. As SDS first reported, the hold up for Tennessee could be Minshew’s desire to be a coach. The opportunity to learn from Nick Saban is a big pull for the former ECU QB.

No matter how this weekend’s visits turn out, it appears clear Tennessee is set on adding an arm to the QB room heading into the fall. Taking into account the Vols’ potential issues on the offensive line, playing an inexperienced QB that may not fit the system could prove to be a disastrous venture for Tennessee. Having a veteran presence may turn out to be the best option for a team in the midst of a total offensive overhaul.