Tennessee Vols: Jeremy Pruitt reiterates that Jarrett Guarantano is UT's starting QB
If you were hoping the Tennessee Vols would make a quarterback switch this weekend against Chattanooga, you're out of luck. Jarrett Guarantano will start against Chattanooga and he will continue to be the starter moving forward (unless he's injured). Vols head coach Jeremy Pruitt reiterated this during Vol Calls on Wednesday night. A caller asked […]
If you were hoping the Tennessee Vols would make a quarterback switch this weekend against Chattanooga, you're out of luck.
Jarrett Guarantano will start against Chattanooga and he will continue to be the starter moving forward (unless he's injured).
Vols head coach Jeremy Pruitt reiterated this during Vol Calls on Wednesday night.
A caller asked Pruitt it was possible that any of Tennessee's backup quarterbacks (J.T. Shrout and Brian Maurer) could "push the quarterback (Guarantano) out".
Pruitt almost seemed incredulous when he heard the question, replying "You’re asking me if we’re going to switch the quarterbacks out? Well, I mean, Jarrett Guarantano is our starting quarterback."
The second year UT head coach added "We’ve really been trying to find an opportunity to get J.T. and Brian in there….it just hasn't worked out that way"
Pruitt noted earlier this week that the main reason for the wide gap on the depth chart between Guarantano and the backups is because Maurer played in a simple up-tempo spread offense in high school and Shrout is still making too many practice mistakes.
The Vols definitely need to get Maurer or Shrout in the game against Chattanooga. Even if Guarantano, who has been lackluster in the Vols' two losses this season, shows major improvement in the next few weeks, there's still always a risk of injury. If Guarantano suffers an injury, then there's no one with collegiate game experience on the roster. In fact, Pruitt and his staff wouldn't even know which backup quarterback is the better option.
Of course, for the Vols to get one of the backups (or both) in the game against Chattanooga, they'll have to build a big lead.
Tennessee has to focus on winning a game before they worry about a big lead, so there's no guarantee fans will see Shrout or Maurer in action this weekend.
Featured image via Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
