Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low
Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer announced at the Vols' walk-through Friday that Nick Stephens would start at quarterback Saturday against Northern Illinois.
Fulmer said it was time to shake it up and that Stephens deserves a chance to show what he can do. Jonathan Crompton started the first four games for the Vols, but struggled mightily. He was 8-of-23 for 67 yards in the Vols' 14-12 loss to Auburn last week.
Fulmer said there are no plans to play two quarterbacks in this game. If Stephens plays well and the Vols are moving the football on offense, he'll be the go to guy the entire game. Fulmer said Crompton took the news well and will be ready to play if needed.
The Vols (1-3, 0-2 SEC) are 11th in the SEC in scoring offense and ninth in total offense. They've not been able to generate any semblance of a downfield passing game.
Chris Low joined ESPN.com in 2007 after 10 years with The (Nashville) Tennessean covering the University of Tennessee and SEC. The Rock Hill, S.C., native lives with his wife in Knoxville and has three sons.
