Tennessee football 2020 preview by position: Vols QBs

Biggest questions

1. Can Jarrett Guarantano hold onto his starting spot?

As we’ve discussed, Jarrett Guarantano was highly inconsistent once settled into a starting role last year. He started through Tennessee football’s 1-3 record to open the season, and once he won the job back at the end of the season, he was benched in the Gator Bowl.

After coming back in, Guarantano led a comeback win to beat the Indiana Hoosiers 23-22. But it seems like he only plays his best once coming off the bench or looking over his shoulder. Oddly, he needs some pressure on him. Can he overcome that for this year? That’s a key to this season.

2. Who will take over as second-string quarterback?

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Last year, Brian Maurer initially won this battle, and JT Shrout was third-string. However, all three of them started. With Kasim Hill, more experienced than both of them, now being eligible and the arrival of two freshmen, including five-star pro-style quarterback Harrison Bailey, the position is much more wide open.

Of course, being the second-string quarterback, given what we mentioned about Guarantano, is a big deal. That person has a great chance to become a starter. Bailey generates all the headlines, and Hill has the most experience. But Shrout and Maurer actually started for the Vols. This will be an interesting battle, particularly since there was no spring to help figure this out.

3. Will Harrison Bailey or Brian Maurer take a redshirt?

This somewhat builds off our last question, but the person more buried in the depth chart is the one likely to take a redshirt. Hill and Shrout can’t. Guarantano is starting, and he can’t. Jimmy Holiday’s redshirt status does not depend on his roster spot.

That leaves Maurer, a sophomore, and Bailey, a freshman phenom. To be fair, both players could end up redshirting. If Maurer redshirts, though, it may be a sign that he needs to transfer, as he will have lost the job to Bailey. Keep an eye on how this plays out, though.