Former Tennessee Vols QB named as a player to watch during bowl season

A former Tennessee Vols quarterback was named this week as an "under-the-radar" player to watch during bowl season. 

ESPN's Blake Baumgartner pointed out Liberty quarterback Kaidon Salter as a player that folks should have an eye on in December/January. 

From ESPN: Liberty quarterback Kaidon Salter has been the point man for a program that leads the nation in rushing (302.9 YPG), is third in total yards (514.9 YPG) behind LSU and Oregon and has gotten off to the program's first-ever 13-0 start. Salter, who transferred from Tennessee, has accumulated 3,814 total yards (2,750 passing) and 43 total touchdowns (31 passing touchdowns) on the way to piloting an offense averaging 40.8 points a game (fifth in all of FBS). Seven times this season, Salter has accounted for at least four total touchdowns in a game as the Flames have tallied at least 30 points in all but one game this season (a 21-16 win over Sam Houston on Oct. 5).

Salter signed with Tennessee during the 2021 recruiting cycle as a four-star recruit. He was rated by 247Sports as the No. 7 quarterback in the nation. 

The Texas native actually signed with the Vols while Jeremy Pruitt was still the program's head coach. Salter remained with the program after Josh Heupel was hired. 

Salter was suspended in March, just two months after Heupel was hired, for an incident involving drugs and unlawful drug paraphernalia in a UT dorm. He was kicked off the team later that the summer due to a traffic stop where he admitted to having marijuana in the car. Salter had just been reinstated to Tennessee's football team when this incident occurred. He never played a snap for the Volunteers. 

The former four-star recruit is in his third season at Liberty and he's coming off a terrific 2023 regular season. Salter passed for 2,750 yards and 31 touchdowns (with just five interceptions) to go along with 1,064 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. 

Liberty will play Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl on New Year's Day.