Though the Tennessee Volunteers failed to make a bowl game last season, QB Jarrett Guarantano took some major steps forward.

Now, as he enters his redshirt junior season in 2019, he’ll look to become one of the better quarterbacks in the entire SEC.

After Monday’s practice session, coach Jeremy Pruitt sounded very happy with his signal caller. In a practice in which the offense outplayed the defense, Pruitt said Guarantano’s toughness and talent is starting to show more often:

In 2018, Guarantano threw for 1,907 yards and 12 touchdowns — not eye-popping, by any means — but only had three interceptions.

If he can step up even more this year, the Vols will be more dangerous on offense as they vie for a spot in a bowl game.