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Tennessee football 2019 preview by position: Vols Quarterbacks

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 08: Jarrett Guarantano #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers looks to pass during a game against the East Tennessee State University Buccaneers at Neyland Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennesee won the game 59-3. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 08: Jarrett Guarantano #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers looks to pass during a game against the East Tennessee State University Buccaneers at Neyland Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennesee won the game 59-3. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /
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Final take

Tennessee football’s quarterback play was efficient last year with Jarrett Guarantano, but the sample size wasn’t good enough given the beating he took from the offensive line. Assuming that line is better this year, we’ll get a better gauge of what Guarantano can do.

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If he gets more protection, Jeremy Pruitt has put him in great position to succeed by bringing in Jim Chaney as offensive coordinator. Chaney knows how to utilize elite weapons, and he’s got a lot of them this year.

Meanwhile, Guarantano has two former national championship quarterbacks on the roster. One, Tee Martin, is coaching receivers, but he did it with the Vols. So he’s a huge asset. The other, Chris Weinke, won it the next year with the Florida State Seminoles and is now coaching Guarantano specifically this year. That should be very helpful given his high school and NFL experience.

Given what he’s shown so far, Guarantano has the tools to be a highly successful starter. He’s great under pressure, and he doesn’t make too many mistakes. These things do matter, so provided he gets protection, he should be a lot more durable this year.

If not, the Vols ought to be in good shape with J.T. Shrout and Brian Maurer behind him. Sure, Jermey Pruitt would like more proven depth. But as he said at SEC Media Days, this entire team is more on the potential side of things than anything.

Those guys are part of that potential. Pruitt loved Shrout out of high school for a reason, and his big arm makes him the perfect guy to come off the bench and keep the offense running smoothly should something happen to Guarantano.

Next. Projecting the Vols' 2019 2-deep depth chart. dark

Simply put, Guarantano has proven enough to be effective if he is in the right situations, and this is the year he should finally show it. Tennessee football will go as he goes. Shrout should be a quality backup if he’s needed, and Brian Maurer may redshirt unless there’s a barrage of injuries coming. While thin and unproven, this unit is something for Chaney and Pruitt to work with.

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