The Tennessee football Volunteers quarterback is a Johnny Unitas Golden Arm award 2020 preseason candidate.
Everything about the season is up in the air, but awards preseason watch lists continue as if nothing has changed. On Tuesday, Tennessee football saw another one of its players put on one of those lists.
Rising fifth-year senior quarterback Jarrett Guarantano was one of 48 quarterbacks named to the 2020 Johnny Unites Golden Arm Award preseason watch list. The award goes to the nation’s best senior or fourth-year starting quarterback.
Lots of SEC talent joined the Tennessee football signal-caller.Jamie Newman of the Georgia Bulldogs, Shawn Robinson of the Missouri Tigers, Kyle Trask of the Florida Gators and Terry Wilson of the Kentucky Wildcats all made it just from the East.
From the West, Myles Brennan of the LSU Tigers, K.J. Costello of the Mississippi State Bulldogs, Feleipe Franks of the Arkansas Razorbacks, Mac Jones of the Alabama Crimson Tide, Kellen Mond of the Texas A&M Aggies were on the list. Overall, 10 SEC quarterbacks made it.
Given the fact that the list has so many people and only includes seniors or fourth-year starters, it’s not that special to make it. However, Guarantano could be a surprise player for the Vols this year if he develops consistency.
Over the past two years, the guy has averaged over eight yards an attempt, and last year he nearly averaged eight and a half yards an attempt. He has also completed over 60 percent of his passes during those two years and has 28 touchdowns to only 11 interceptions.
Yes, at times, Guarantano has shown a tendency to play awful. But he can also be clutch. After all, he led the Vols to back to back comeback road wins down the stretch of last year, including one in which he threw for over 400 yards. The guy has proven himself.
Simply put, there is reason to believe in him this year. The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award dates back to 1987, and Peyton Manning remains the only Tennessee football quarterback to win it. He won the award in 1997.