Tennessee football at Vanderbilt: 10 keys for Vols and Commodores

FAYETTEVILLE, AR - NOVEMBER 7: Harrison Bailey #15 hands off the ball to Eric Gray #3 of the Tennessee Volunteers during a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Razorback Stadium on November 7, 2020 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Razorbacks defeated the Volunteers 24-13. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

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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 /

6.. Starting quarterback for Vols

It looks like Jarrett Guarantano won’t be starting now for Tennessee football. The quarterback race comes down to the two guys with the big arms who played last week, one of whom is a five-star freshman phenom, Harrison Bailey, and another who was Jeremy Pruitt’s first ever commitment at the quarterback position as head coach of UT, J.T. Shrout.

Statistically, Shrout was better last week, completing 12-of-14 passes for 121 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions while leading back to back touchdown drives of over 90 yards, one being 94 yards and the other being 96 yards.

On the other hand, most of Shrout’s success came in garbage time after the Florida Gators were already up 31-7. Bailey all but two of the drives, and he led a 96-yard touchdown drive of his own in the first half. Against competition that matter, he was 14-of-21 for 111 yards and a touchdown and no interceptions.

Both quarterbacks showed some promise, though, and either one of them could be the guy of the future. The one Pruitt and Jim Chaney go with Saturday could play a huge role in the outcome of that game and the future of the program.

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