HOOVER, Alabama — Tennessee quarterback Joshua Dobbs thinks designing his own plane after playing in the NFL would be “awesome.”

After a week that included a trip to the Elite 11 camp in Oregon, Peyton Manning’s camp and speaking engagements in Hoover at Tuesday’s Southeastern Conference Media Days, it’s hard not to admire the junior quarterback.

As impressive as his on-the-field accomplishments are, though, equally so is his role as a student and aerospace engineering major.

“I’ve always competed in the classroom the same way I’ve competed on the field,” Dobbs said. “When I was younger, I was fascinated with airplanes, aircraft, building and designing.”

Although Tennessee coach Butch Jones said “64 percent of the roster has played one year of college football or less,” his Volunteers come into the 2015 season with some pretty lofty expectations.

“Our goal every time we step on the field is to win,” Dobbs said. “Tennessee has been nationally relevant and they have a very prestigious history, so we want to take it one game at a time this season.”

As the Volunteers faced off against the Alabama Crimson Tide last year in Knoxville and trailed 27-0 in the second quarter, Jones turned to then-sophomore Dobbs, a dual-threat quarterback.

Four games later, Dobbs was taking home the most valuable player trophy after a TaxSlayer Bowl win against Iowa.

“Josh has always been a student of the game,” Jones said of his quarterback’s intelligence. “On the way over here, I thought he was going to try the plane.”

This summer, while preparing for his first full season starting at quarterback in the SEC, he also worked as an intern for aerospace manufacturer Pratt & Whitney in West Palm Beach, Florida.

While working there, he said he was able to test an “F-135 engine that will be used on the new F-35 planes,” and he that he “ran the engine and it did not malfunction.”

For Dobbs, flying is the future. For Tennessee, the piloting lies in Dobbs’ hands.

**On Catching Mizzou**

Butch Jones and the Volunteers have fallen to the Missouri Tigers each of the last two years. They will face off Nov. 21 at Faurot Field this season.

Jones was asked if Mizzou is the team to beat in the SEC East.

“Obviously, Missouri has won our side for the years that you spoke about,” Jones said. “They have our respect. But everybody has our respect because you never know which is going to be the team that gets hot.”

When Dobbs was asked a similar question, he displayed his desire to be on top.

“We want to win every game,” he said. “Obviously Missouri has gotten our number, but we want to win every game we step on the field.”