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.