While some Tennessee fans may be ready to move on from the Jarrett Guarantano era, it sounds like the senior has a firm grasp on the starting quarterback role in Knoxville.

The fifth-year senior certainly has displayed plenty of inconsistency during his college career, which makes the backup quarterback role on Rocky Top one of the most important positions on the field for the Vols entering the season.

During a rare media interview, offensive coordinator Jim Chaney touted Guarantano’s continued progress this offseason at Tennessee.

“I feel very comfortable we should see some growth and development out of that position,” Chaney said when discussing Tennessee’s projected starting quarterback.

Despite those comments from Chaney, some Tennessee fans are likely going to have to see it before they believe it when it comes to Guarantano. After all, they’ve heard similar sentiments before when it comes to the QB leading up to a season opener.

When it comes to the battle to backup Guarantano, the early buzz out of camp is that JT Shrout has taken the lead in that competition.

Based on comments made by Chaney, the buzz surrounding Shrout certainly sounds accurate.

Here’s what the offensive coordinator had to say about the progression from the California native.

“The same thing with JT, it’s just familiarity, once again, of just knowing the concepts,” Chaney continued. “I feel like once again, like I just mentioned with Jimmy, by the numbers, he seems to be doing a better job at the ball. With JT and young quarterbacks within new concepts, they tend to be a little reckless with the ball and putting it in spots we don’t want it to go into.

“So we feel like being able to monitor that, they’ll continue to get better and I think JT has done a really good job of that. There’s a couple practices there, obviously, that he does things we’d prefer not to – like all quarterbacks do. But we have seen growth on that. It’s just the security of the football, what we’re looking for, but I feel like he’s much more familiar with the concepts and progressing through where we needed to go.”

Does that mean Shrout has locked up the backup role on Rocky Top?

Not even close, according to Chaney.

“Well, right now it’s everybody’s playing football,” the coordinator added when asked about the competition for the backup role on the team. “Equal reps across the board with JT, Brian, also with Harrison, and we’re giving everybody as many reps as we can. Everything’s up in the air, we’re way too early to make decisions on that and Coach is trying to keep us in the most competitive environments we can.

“They got to be put under the fire. We want to really see how they’re gonna react when things happen like that, to feel comfortable to them playing. They’ll earn that two spot, that three spot and that four spot, but unfortunately, that’s life. Somebody is going to get a little better than the other one. And we’ll sort that out as the thing goes on. I feel like that’s where we’re at right now. So nothing’s cut and dry one bit.

“There’s competition throughout the team, particularly at that spot.”

Finally, when asked to share his early impressions of true freshman Harrison Bailey, Chaney noted the first-year player is making good progress but has also displayed the signs of being in his first year in the offense.

“I think Harrison is going to be a solid football player for us here,” Chaney continued. “He’s learning… he’s just like those young freshmen wideouts. They’re all learning everything. Unfortunately, Harrison got here early but then we got (only) two days of spring. So, it would have been really nice to have him all spring to see where he’s at today, (compared to) where he’s at right now.

“Yesterday, threw some very nice balls for us. So it’s interesting to see how he continues to grow. It’s obvious some of the concepts he has a grasp on, he plays fast and makes good decisions. Other ones that he’s a little confused on, he plays a little slower. So he looks to me like any other freshman quarterback I’ve had to deal with, they’re just learning. The (plays) they know, they play quick and fine. I’m pleased with Harrison as he continues to develop.”

Photo credit: Tennessee Athletic Communications