Tennessee football: Could Jarrett Guarantano have a breakout season?
The national media is loving Jarrett Guarantano. Could he have a breakout season and help lead the Vols back to being relevant.
Jarrett Guarantano is Tennessee’s starting quarterback, and yes he’s better than you care to admit. Maybe it’s a pride thing for you now, but it’s okay to change your mind.
Surely you know who I’m talking about, but in case you forgot he is the quarterback that ESPN showed being standoffish in the 2017 season opener against Georgia Tech. Guarantano received more television time as the backup quarterback and didn’t play a single down.
Guarantano was doubted by many in the quarterback battle of 2017 against Quinten Dormady. That season Guarantano got his chance and outperformed Dormady by having a 6.4 percent higher passing percentage, 72 more passing yards on ten more attempts, and 0.4 more yards per attempt.
2018 was much of the same thanks to the arrival of graduate transfer, Keller Chryst. The Stanford transfer had Power 5 experience, and a lot of fans deemed him as the starter, again doubting Guarantano.
After being somewhat successful at Stanford, Chryst didn’t have it at Tennessee. I can’t be a hypocrite, his surrounding cast (offensive line) wasn’t great. In fact, you could argue it was the worst offensive line in the history of the program.
However, Guarantano dealt with the same offensive line and was better than Chryst. In fact, advanced statistics say Guarantano was one of the most consistent quarterbacks in the SEC last season. Most of those same statistics believe he is in for a big season. Or at least the potential is there.
More and more national media members are jumping on board.
Guarantano appeared in an ESPN article written by David M. Hale highlighting under-the-radar players ready for a breakout season in 2019. The article compares Guarantano’s numbers to Justin Herbert’s of Oregon and the similarity might surprise you.
Of course, Herbert is in a more pass-friendly offense, so his overall numbers were much larger. However, breaking down completion percentage, yard per pass, and touchdown-to-interception ratio, Guarantano was better.
Even better news for Vol fans, Jim Chaney is the new offensive coordinator. Chaney has a history of developing quarterbacks and puts them in the right place to showcase their best skills.
In 2008, Tennessee’s offense produced 268.8 yards per game. Chaney came on board in 2009 and helped improved the Vols offense by 114.8 yards per game. By 2012, Tennessee had one of the best offenses in the nation producing 468.5 yards a game.
In Chaney’s three years at Georiga, the Bulldogs offense saw improvements of +23.5, +76.4, and +100.5 yards per game by 2018.
Jonathan Crompton was Tennessee’s starting quarterback in 2009, Lane Kiffin’s first year as head coach. At a near 60 percent completion percentage, Crompton threw for 2800 yards with a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 27:13.
It’s okay to have reservations, but in the grand scheme of things, Guarantano isn’t that bad of a quarterback. With the addition of Chaney, the third-year starter should be even better. Not to mention there is finally talent on the offensive line.
Next. 2020 recruiting class at dead period: Vols Linebackers. dark
Whether or not you believe Guarantano is a good quarterback, he isn’t the reason the Vols haven’t been good. At least, he isn’t the main reason. If he doesn’t show signs of improvement this season, it will be time to look to the future with someone else taking the snaps. However, my bet is on him having a great season and puts an end to all his critics.