Tennessee football: 5 3-stars who could shine for Vols in 2019

Tennessee football appears to be set at quarterback with Jarrett Guarantano. However, Guarantano had to leave two games last year due to injury, and he takes a lot of hits. That leaves an opening for Brian Maurer.

JT Shrout has a bigger arm and more experience with the Vols after redshirting last year as a freshman with the team. But the arrival of new offensive coordinator Jim Chaney left things a little more open.

And to be honest, there wasn’t much room between Shrout and Maurer, if any, in the spring game. As a result, the Vols have plenty of room for Maurer to steal the second-string quarterback job, and Maurer could work his way through that gap.

That makes Maurer a three-star prospect who could definitely shock the world by seeing some action next year. And he wouldn’t be the first three-star recruit to start for the Vols at quarterback as a freshman.

Jeremy Pruitt probably doesn’t want that, and given how he targeted Shrout in 2018, that’s the backup he likely favors. But Maurer is in great position to make a shocking play for that higher spot, and he could be the better guy. The second string quarterback is very likely to see action next year, whomever it is.