TENNESSEE
Depending on who’s asked, Tennessee QB Jarrett Guarantano may be the SEC’s third best signal caller behind Tua Tagovailoa and Jake Fromm. However, most wouldn’t agree with that suggestion.
Guarantano has yet to make an appearance in a bowl game, but he’s thrown for 2,904 yards and 16 TDs while completing over 62 percent of his passes. One thing about Guarantano — he’s tougher than nails. He’s likely been hit more than any other SEC QB, and he always bounces back up.
Entering his third season, the Lodi, New Jersey, native could be primed for a big one. QB Coach Tony Racioppi, who Guarantano works with during the offseason, thinks the Tennessee signal caller has improved, according to an interview with 99.1 The Sports Animal in Knoxville.
Racioppi worked with Guarantano after UT’s 2018 season ended, and he’s worked with him this summer, too.
“I think, No. 1 his footwork’s definitely a little cleaner,” Racioppi said of Guarantano’s improvement. “His throwing sequence is a lot cleaner. He’s doing a much better job of closing his shoulder when he’s stepping, which, you know, lets our hips be our main power source and lets our elbow get up so we’re more consistent and more accurate with the ball. And the second thing is, honestly — I see this all the time with scholarship kids — they all have strong arms. That’s why they’re scholarship kids. You know, Tennessee’s not gonna offer a kid that can’t throw the ball hard, but as they get older, they learn how to throw the ball, how to layer the ball over people, like second-level throws like digs and curls and deep over routes. It’s how to be a passer. …
“Like I said, he can throw with anybody, but it’s the ability to throw the ball kind of with a little touch and the ability to get the ball to people and leading people and throwing the ball to spots on time, he’s gotten much better at that.”
It’ll be interesting to see Tennessee’s offense, namely Guarantano, under new OC Jim Chaney.
Show me a QB whose main compliment is that he’s “tough” and I’ll show you an Offensive Line that isn’t.
Tennessee’s o-line has sucked, but JG is tough as hell. He took hit after hit and kept getting up. The only thing I question about JG, is his running. He doesn’t look like a duel threat QB. He is a pocket passer.
Good point crank. I hope to see a lot of improvement in him and the O-line though not sure how much improvement there will be. The addition of morris will be a plus but the deletion of Trey makes that a wash. If Wright cones in and can play right away but that is asking a lot. If, if, if… I also need to hear how much better G is at recognizing defenses and blitzes… hearing the guy that’s paid to name him better isn’t the same as an uninvested third party. All that said I give G tons of credit, think he will be better, think the O-line will be better and believe he will be in the top 4-5 of sec QB’s when the seasons over. Put him on UGA or bamas team and he’s viewed in a totally different light and same with Fromm or even Tua. How highly regarded would they be if they played behind our O-line the last few years and for Botch Jones!
I’d rank him behind Burrow, Franks, Bentley, Bryant, and Mond, and you can argue that Tommy Stevens and whoever wins the Auburn job deserve spots ahead of him as well. Most would disagree with him being in the top half of the SEC, top 3 is a joke.
And your opinion matters why?
I would put him about 6th. Here is the breakdown in no particular order
Above Jarrett:
1) Tua
2) Franks
3) Fromm
4) Burrow
5) Mond
Below Jarrett:
1) Whoever is starting for Arkansas
2) Whoever is starting for Auburn
3) Wilson (UK)
4) Thompson (MSST)
5) Whoever is starting at Ole Miss
6) Bryant (MIZZOU)- I’m interested to see how he does with less at Mizzou. I might put them even with each other
7) Bentley (S CAR)-I think he just threw another pick…
8) Whoever starts at Vandy
I’ll hold on highly rating Guarantano until we see it. I also don’t get how highly regarded the chickens now hold Bentley after calling for his scalp last season. Neither are top 5.