All for Tennessee
Fansided

Tennessee football: Five takeaways from Vols 31-19 loss to Florida

By Caleb Calhoun

Dec 5, 2020; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Eric Gray (3) runs for a touchdown against the Florida Gators during the first half at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 5, 2020; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Eric Gray (3) runs for a touchdown against the Florida Gators during the first half at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 5
Next
Tennessee quarterback J.T. Shrout (12) warms up before a game between Tennessee and Missouri at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020.100320 Tenn Mo Jpg
Tennessee quarterback J.T. Shrout (12) warms up before a game between Tennessee and Missouri at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020.100320 Tenn Mo Jpg /

3. Controversy arises involving two new quarterbacks.

What does Jeremy Pruitt do now? Tennessee football did not play Jarrett Guarantano in this game. Brian Maurer was in for two plays, and one of them resulted in a first down on a pass. The story, though, was the play of Harrison Bailey and J.T. Shrout.

Bailey played the bulk of the game and completed 14-of-21 passes for 111 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions. He looked like the quarterback of the future, and fans had every reason to be encouraged, as he had a 96-yard touchdown drive.

However, with the Vols down 31-7 late, Pruitt threw Shrout in there for what should have been garbage time. All Shrout did was lead back-to-back touchdown drives of 94 and 96 yards respectively. In the process, he completed 12-of-14 passes for 121 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions, surpassing the play of Bailey.

Was this the result of Shrout getting chances in garbage time, or should he now be locked in a quarterback battle with Bailey? It’s hard to know what Pruitt and Jim Chaney will decide this week, but Shrout’s TD pass was more impressive than Bailey’s as it was a beautiful strike to Velus Jones Jr. at the end of the game.

Home/Vols Football