Tennessee football: Five reasons Vols should stick with Jarrett Guarantano

1. Proven history of producing in big games

For as much as people want to complain about Jarrett Guarantano, he has a proven history of coming through in big moments. Tennessee football needs that if it’s going to turn things around under Jeremy Pruitt.

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Does anybody remember the Auburn Tigers game last year? Guarantano threw for two touchdowns and over 300 yards in a win. His passing allowed the Vols to convert four straight third downs on their go-ahead touchdown drive. He was also aggressive early in that game, showing his mental toughness.

Then, against the Kentucky Wildcats, he was playing a very elite defense. All he did was look very efficient in the process, completing 12-of-20 passes for 197 yards and two touchdowns, including that perfectly improvised Hail Mary at the end of the half to Marquez Callaway. Oh, and he had no interceptions against either ranked team.

Why would anybody want to pull somebody who has proven himself in those moments when his two backups have never played a snap at this level? This is what Jeremy Pruitt was talking about this week when he emphasized how much further ahead Guarantano is of Brian Maurer and J.T. Shrout at this point. There’s no reason to turn on him.

Yes, Guarantano has had his issues early on in this season. But he has proven he can play at an elite level in the SEC, and Tennessee football should not be turning on him just because of one bad game and two bad losses. That would be an insane overreaction.