The Pittsburgh Steelers have selected Tennessee QB Joshua Dobbs in the fourth-round of the 2017 NFL Draft with the 135th overall pick.
Dobbs measured in at the scouting combine at 6033, 216-pounds. He threw for 7,138 yards and 53 touchdowns during his college career. He also had 32 rushing touchdowns.
COMBINE 40-YD: 4.64 | 10-YD: 1.62 | 20-YD: 2.69 | VJ: 33 | BJ: 10’02” | SS: 4.31 | 3C: 6.75 | MPH: 55
2016 – SENIOR
2016 Photo Gallery
2016 GAME-BY-GAME STATISTICS
Games/Starts: 13/13
Finished Tennessee career with a 23-12 record (including 3-0 in bowls) as starting quarterback, tying Condredge Holloway (1972-74) for the fifth-most wins by starting quarterback.
Set UT records for career rushing yards by a quarterback (2,160), career rushing touchdowns by a QB (32), single-season rushing yards by a QB (831 in 2016) and single-season rushing touchdowns by a QB (12 in 2016). His 2,160 rushing yards also rank 14th among all players in program history.
His 7,138 career passing yards rank fifth in Tennessee history and his 9,360 yards of total offense (7,138 passing, 2,160 rushing, 62 receiving) rank third in program history behind only Peyton Manning (11,020) and Casey Clausen (9,577)
His 3,781 yards of total offense (2,946 passing, 831 rushing, 4 receiving) in 2016 ranks second in Tennessee history only to Peyton Manning’s 3,789 in 1997
Joined Mississippi State’s Dak Prescott and Florida’s Tim Tebow as the only SEC quarterbacks to record 15 passing touchdowns and 10 rushing touchdowns in multiple seasons
Is one of only four quarterbacks in SEC history to have 50 career passing touchdowns and 25 career rushing touchdowns. The others are Florida’s Tim Tebow, Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel and Mississppi State’s Dak Prescott.
Set or tied UT bowl records in 2016 Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl for most passing yards per attempt (10.7), most rushing touchdowns (three, tying James Stewart), most total plays (47, tying Jimmy Streater), most points scored (18, tying James Stewart) and most touchdowns responsible for (four).
Led Tennessee to its third-straight bowl victory (first time since 1994-96), defeating Nebraska, 38-24, in the 2016 Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl (12/30). Finished 23-of-38 for 291 yards and one passing touchdown and also ran for game-high 118 yards and three touchdowns (Music City Bowl record) on 11 carries. His 409 total offensive yards are the second-most all-time in Tennessee bowl history.
Set a new career high with 31 completions in 34 attempts at Vanderbilt, passing for 340 yards and two touchdowns and rushing for 53 yards on 13 carries. Broke his own UT single-season rushing record for a QB and became the first QB in Tennessee history to rush for 2,000 career yards.
Manning Award Quarterback of the Week (11/23/16)
Walter Camp National Offensive Player of the Week (11/20/16)
Accounted for five touchdowns (three passing, two rushing) in the Vols’ 63-37 win over Missouri (11/19), completing 11 of 17 passes for 223 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. He also rushed for 147 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries. UT’s 63 points were its most since scoring 63 against Western Kentucky in 2009.
Manning Award Quarterback of the Week (11/17/16)
Led Tennessee to 10.2 yards per play average vs. Kentucky (11/12), which was the Vols’ best since averaging a school-record 10.9 yards per play against UK in 2000. UT’s 9.2 yards per rush was also the Vols’ best since 9.5 against Auburn on Dec. 4, 2004.
Accounted for five touchdowns in the Vols’ win over Kentucky (11/12), completing 11 of 17 passes for 223 yards, three touchdowns and one pick and rushing 14 times for 147 yards and two scores
Threw for 183 yards and three touchdowns on 12-of-13 passing and ran for three yards on one carry in homecoming win over Tennessee Tech (11/5)
Set a new personal best with 11-straight completions, starting game against Tennessee Tech (11/5) completing 11 of his first 11 attempts to tie Heath Shuler for the eighth-best consecutive completion mark in UT history
Completed 12 of 26 passes for 161 yards, one TD and two INTs and rushed for 27 yards on 12 carries at South Carolina (10/29)
Finished 16-of-27 for 92 yards and one INT against Alabama (10/15) and rushed seven times for -31 yards
Was named to the Davey O’Brien “Great 8” for his Week 6 performance at #8/7 Texas A&M
Threw for a career-high 398 yards at No. 8/7 Texas A&M, completing 28-of-47 (both career highs) with one touchdown and two interceptions. Also ran for 57 yards on 17 carries and caught a four-yard pass for a touchdown. Led Tennessee to 684 yards of offense, the Vols’ third-most in program history, second-most in a road game and most-ever against a ranked opponent.
With 459 yards against the Aggies, became the fifth player in program history to account for 7,000 career yards of total offense (passing, rushing, receiving).
Was named to the Davey O’Brien “Great 8” for his Week 5 performance at #25/20 Georgia
Led UT to a thrilling 34-31 comeback win at #25/20 Georgia (10/1), throwing the game-winning 43-yard Hail Mary to Jauan Jennings with no time left. Vols trailed by as much as 17 points and Dobbs was responsible for four touchdowns, finishing 16-of-26 for 230 yards, three touchdowns and one interception and rushing for 26 yards and a score on 11 carries. Four yard-score in second quarter was 25th of his career, tying Jimmy Streater for most by a UT QB.
Maxwell Award Player of the Week (9/29)
SEC Offensive Player of the Week (9/26)
Was named to the Davey O’Brien “Great 8” for his Week 4 performance vs. #19/16 Florida
Led the Vols back from a 21-point deficit to defeat Florida (9/24) 38-28 and end UT’s 11-game losing streak against the Gators. The comeback tied for the third-largest comeback in Tennessee history.
Responsible for five touchdowns vs. Florida (9/24), completing 16 of 32 passes for 319 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions and rushing for 80 yards and one score on 17 carries. All four TD passes were 20 yards or longer, including a 67-yarder (ties season best) to Jauan Jennings in the third quarter that gave UT the lead
With 399 yards of total offense (319 passing, 80 rushing) vs. UF (9/24), pushed career total to 6,625 and surpassed Andy Kelly (6,427, 1988-91) for fifth-most in UT history
Totaled three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing) in win vs. Ohio (9/17), completing 19-of-27 for 203 yards and rushing for 59 yards on 14 carries.
Accounted for five TDs in comeback win vs. Virginia Tech (9/10), completing 10 of 19 passes for 91 yards, three TDs and one INT and rushing for 106 yards and two scores on 14 carries.
Passed Jimmy Streater (1,374) for most career rushing yards by a Vols QB with a 40-yard run vs. VT (9/10)
His 106 rushing yards vs. Hokies marked the fourth 100-yard rushing performance of his career, breaking a tie with Streater for most by a Vols QB.
Completed 16 of 29 passes for 191 yards, one TD and one INT and directed the Vols to a 20-13 comeback win vs. Appalachian State (9/1) in season opener. Marked second fourth-quarter comeback of career.
2015 – JUNIOR
Photo Gallery
2015 GAME-BY-GAME STATISTICS
Games/Starts: 13/13
In 13 starts in 2015, thrown for 2,291 yards on 205-of-344 with 15 touchdown passes and only five interceptions
One of three SEC players over the last 20 years to have 300 yards passing and 100 yards rushing a game (with Johnny Manziel & Tim Tebow), accomplishing the feat vs. Georgia in 2015 and South Carolina in 2014
Vols are 14-5 in his last 19 starts, dating to 2013 season
In his last 19 starts dating to the conclusion of his junior season, the Vols averaged 34.2 points per game and 424 yards of total offense
Thrown at least one touchdown in 13 of his last 19 starts with multiple scoring throws 10 times
Rushed for at least one touchdown in 13 of his last 19 starts with two or more in six of those games
With only five interceptions no Vols starting quarterback threw fewer in a season since Peyton Manning threw just four in 1995
Rushed for school-record (by a quarterback) 671 yards (51.6 yards per game) with 11 rushing scores; also caught a 58-yard touchdown at Florida (9/26)
Seventh in career completions at Tennessee with 389
Ranks eighth in career passing yards with 4,192; next: No. 7 Tee Martin (4,592)
Rushing total of 671 is most in a season in Tennessee history, breaking record of 593 by Jimmy Streater (1978)
Rushed for 20 career touchdowns, second all-time to Jimmy Streater (25)
Second all-time in career rushing yards by a quarterback with 1,329, behind Jimmy Streater (1,374)
Led Vols to second consecutive bowl championship with 214 yards (166 passing and 48 rushing) in Outback Bowl win over Northwestern (1/1), rushed for two touchdowns including SportsCenter #1 Play of Day with a tightrope down right sideline for 18-yard rushing touchdown
Accounted for three touchdowns with two passing and one rushing score in regular-season finale win vs. Vanderbilt (11/28), threw for 140 yards on 13-of-21 and run for 93 yards on 11 carries in the win
Rushed for Vols’ lone touchdown in win at Missouri (11/21), just prior to halftime to key victory, finished with 143 total yards (89 passing and 54 rushing)
290 yards of total offense with 255 passing yards and two TD passes in win over South Carolina (11/7)
Totaled 284 yards of total offense and four touchdowns at Kentucky (10/31); threw a career-long 75-yard scoring pass to Jose Malone along with a 37-yard score to Jalen Hurd while scoring on runs of 28 and 1 yard.
Rushed for 387 yards (55.3 yards per game) with five rushing scores; also caught a 58-yard touchdown at Florida (9/26)
Numerous honors after his second-career 300-yard passing/100-yard rushing game vs. Georgia (10/10)
Racked up 430 yards of total offense (fifth-most in a game in Vols history) and accounted for five touchdowns in win over #19 Georgia (10/10); threw for career-high 312 yards on 25-of-42 with three touchdowns and ran for 118 yards with two touchdowns
Threw for 232 yards on 20-of-36 with a rushing touchdown vs. Arkansas (10/3)
Combined for 277 yards of total offense (136 rushing, 83 passing, 58 receiving) at Florida (9/26); caught a 58-yard touchdown pass from Jauan Jennings to became first Vols’ quarterback with a reception since Peyton Manning in 1997
Started 12-of-13 and finished 15-of-21 for 144 yards with two touchdown passes vs. Western Carolina (9/19)
Threw for 125 yards and a TD to Josh Malone, also ran for a touchdown vs. #19 Oklahoma (9/12)
Named Manning Award Star Of The Week (9/7)
Opened 2015 season with 294 yards of total offense, throwing for two touchdowns and rushing for another in 59-30 win over Bowling Green (9/5)
Given the Peyton Manning Leadership Award at the 2015 Orange and White Game
2014 – SOPHOMORE
2014 game-by-game stats
Photo Gallery
Games/Starts: 6/5
4-1 as Vols starting quarterback, as Tennessee averaged 36.7 points per game and racked up 431 yards of offense per game
In six games this season, compiled 1,675 total yards of offense (279 per game) and responsible for 17 touchdowns (nine passing and eight rushing)
Led Vols in touchdowns scored with eight, all rushing
In six games, threw for 1,206 yards (201 per game) on 112-of-177 with nine passing touchdowns and rushed for 469 yards (78.2 per game) with eight scores and a rushing two-point conversion
Named MVP of 2015 TaxSlayer Bowl leading Vols to 45-28 win over Iowa (1/2)
In TaxSlayer Bowl, accounted for 205 yards of total offense and three touchdowns, throwing for 129 yards on 16-of-21 with a passing touchdown; ran for 76 yards and two touchdowns
Became first Vols QB to run for two scores in a bowl since Casey Clausen had two in the 2002 Florida Citrus Bowl
Compiled 183 total yards (92 passing, 91 rushing) with two rushing touchdowns in win at Vanderbilt (11/29)
Threw for 195 yards on 24-of-37 with a late touchdown pass vs. #19 Missouri (11/22), also ran in for 2-point conversion following that touchdown pass
Picked up 345 yards of total offense with four touchdowns in win over Kentucky (11/15), threw for 297 yards on 19-of-27 with three touchdowns while running for 48 yards and a 9-yard touchdown
Became first Tennessee player with 300 passing yards and 100 rushing yards in the same game at South Carolina (11/1) finishing with career highs of 301 passing yards and 166 rushing yards
Rushing total of 166 at South Carolina set Tennessee record for rushing yards by a quarterback breaking Jimmy Streater’s record of 150 vs. Cal in 1977
Accounted for five touchdowns at South Carolina with three rushing TDs and two passing scores
Made 2014 season debut vs. Alabama (10/25) coming on in the third series. Went on to throw for 192 yards on 19-of-32 with two touchdown passes, also ran for 75 yards on 19 carries
75 rushing yards vs. Alabama were the most by a Vols’ quarterback since Tee Martin ran for 81 vs. Syracuse (9/5/1998)
Added 27 pounds since freshman season
Took over as Vols starting quarterback in 2013 on Oct. 29, became eighth true freshman to start at QB for Vols in 117-year history
2013 – FRESHMAN
Photo Gallery
2013 game-by-game stats
Games/Starts:5/4
Named starting quarterback on Oct. 29, became eighth true freshman to start at QB for Vols in 117-year history
In five games, with four starts, threw for 695 yards on 72-of-121 for a 59.5 completion percentage with two touchdowns and five interceptions
Ran for 189 yards and a touchdown in five games, most rushing yards by a Vols’ quarterback since Tee Martin (317) in 1999
Threw for first two touchdowns of his career at Kentucky (11/30) as part of 14-of-23 game for 199 yards
At Kentucky, ran for first-career rushing touchdown for 40 yards (longest rushing TD by a Vols quarterback since Alan Cockrell in 1983); ran for 52 yards overall, the most by a Vols QB since Tee Martin had 54 rushing yards vs. Kentucky in 1998
In home debut vs. #7 Auburn (11/9), threw for 128 yards on 16-of-28; he also ran for 50 yards on 10 carries — the most rushing yards by a UT QB since Tee Martin had 54 vs. Kentucky in 1998
In first college start at #10 Missouri (11/2), threw for 240 yards on 26-of-42; completions and attempts mark are most by a Vols true freshman on his debut in history
Ran for team-best 45 yards at Missouri, including 33-yard rush, which was longest by a true QB since Tee Martin (38 yards) in 1999
Made college debut at #1 Alabama (10/26), playing entire second half, throwing for 75 yards on 5-of-12; engineered first TD drive at Alabama for any opponent in 2013
Most passing yards in a freshman debut since 2004; Erik Ainge (118) and Brent Schaeffer (123) vs. UNLV
HIGH SCHOOL
Coached by Jason Dukes at Alpharetta High School
Rated four-star by 247Sports (No. 10 prospect in Georgia, No. 8 pro-style quarterback and No. 107 in the Top247 national prospects)
Rated four-star by ESPN (No. 21 prospect in Georgia, No. 4 dual threat quarterback and in the ESPN 300 as the No. 177 player in the country)
Rated four-star by Scout (No. 12 quarterback)
Rated three-star by Rivals (No. 46 prospect in Georgia, No. 20 pro-style quarterback)
In his senior season at Alpharetta, threw for 3,625 yards and 29 touchdowns while rushing for 419 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Finished his junior season 294-of-392 for 3,113 passing yards and 29 touchdowns, also rushing for 200 yards and two touchdowns
2013 Franklin D. Watkins Award winner
2013 Atlanta Journal Constitution Cup Recipient – Best All-Around AHS Senior
2013 Neighbor Newspaper Male Athlete of the Year
2012-13 RizinSTAR Atlanta Student Athlete of the Year Award
2012 Wendy’s High School Heisman State Finalist
2012 Alpharetta Raiders Varsity Team Captain and Pat Watson Spirit of the Raider’s Award
2012 North Fulton Forsyth Touchdown Club Player of the Year
2012 USA Today Sports American Family Insurance ALL-USA Atlanta Team
2012 Elite 11 finalist
Earned First Team All-State, First Team All-County, First Team All-Region, Second Team All-Area, First Team All-Conference, Alpharetta H.S. Offensive MVP, and AHS Scholar Athlete honors in his senior and junior season
Named the Georgia Rising Senior Bowl Offensive MVP after throwing for 237 yards, rushing for 56 yards and accounting for three touchdowns in the game
Also a First Team All-Region baseball player at Alpharetta with offers to play college baseball
PERSONAL
Full Name: Robert Joshua Dobbs
Born: January 26, 1995
Son of Stephanie and Robert Dobbs
Majoring in Aerospace Engineering
Recipient of the William H. Cannon Athletic Engineering Scholarship
Named one of 14 smartest college football players by the NFL.com in 2014
Spent summer of 2015 at an internship at Pratt & Whitney, where he worked at the world leader in design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines for the United States government
Recipient of Bill & Sandy Hamilton Athletics Scholarship Endowment
Recipient of William H. Cannon Athletic Engineering Scholarship
