Jauan Jennings praises Jarrett Guarantano’s growing leadership, ‘phenomenal job’ done by Craig Fitzgerald
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The way Jauan Jennings tells it, spring camp has been a totally different experience this year on Rocky Top.
With so many players returning for Tennessee on the offensive side of the ball, the hire of Jim Chaney to call the plays as the program’s coordinator and a new position coach in Tee Martin, Volunteer fans have high hopes that the program can make a quick turnaround on the offensive side of the ball.
That will likely have to start with the team’s signal caller, who performed well last season but will still need to improve his game if Tennessee’s offense is going to take the next step in its progression. When it comes to Tennessee’s starting quarterback, Jennings believes Jarrett Guarantano has made a jump this offseason.
According to Jennings, the key to that progression comes with communication.
“He’s starting to learn that he is the voice of this offense, the voice of this team and starting to communicate in a bigger way that’s going to help us this season,” Jennings said on Wednesday during his recent media availability.
If Guarantano is going to have a big season, he’s likely going to need Jennings to become his No. 1 target on the perimeter. That’s something Tennessee fans have been hoping to see from Jennings in year’s past but injuries have made it tough for the receiver to fill that role. Now finally healthy, Jennings sounds confident heading into the season.
“I’m feeling really good. This offseason has been a great offseason for me,” Jennings said. “Coach Fitz has done a fabulous job with each and every one of us. I feel 150 percent like a new player. I can’t wait.”
Asked to expound on his health, Jennings offered up this comment.
“I feel healthier. My body is just ready to go this year, I don’t feel any aches or bruises,” he said. “Just happy about that.”
Jennings may have put in the necessary offseason work to get this point but he credits the program’s strength and conditioning coach Craig Fitzgerald for getting him and his teammates in this position once spring camp arrived.
“I’ll be flat out honest – we go hard. We go hard each and every day. It’s a hard I’ve never experienced since I’ve been here, just being honest,” Jennings said. “Coach Fitz is pushing each and every one of us to break out the full potential we all possess. A lot of gratitude goes to Coach Fitz because he’s done a phenomenal job.”
That’s got to be great news for Tennessee fans to hear and one that should lead to an exciting conclusion to the spring football in the upcoming Orange & White Game, which will be Jennings last on Rocky Top.
Are you going to miss the first game of Jauan Jennings' Senior year? No because you'll be at the Chevrolet Orange and White Game on April 13 at 6:00 PM.#PoweredByTheT pic.twitter.com/zAiaeTr1sf
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) April 1, 2019
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Michael Wayne Bratton oversees the news coverage for Saturday Down South. Michael previously worked for FOX Sports and NFL.com
