QB coach explains where Tennessee’s Jarrett Guarantano has improved
By SDS Staff
Published:
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.
Saturday Down South reports and comments on the news around the Southeastern Conference as well as larger college football topics.
