How well have Tennessee’s QB’s played this season?
It hasn’t been the season that Tennessee was hoping for.
The Vols (4–7, 0–7 SEC) will enter Saturday’s contest against Vanderbilt (4–7, 0–7 SEC) with just one more win than the amount of quarterbacks they have played this year (three). None have found much success on the field, but there have been some positives to take away for the Vols’ signal callers.
Quinten Dormady:
Dormady won the starting quarterback job before the season began and held onto it through the team’s first five games. His record as a starter during those contests stands at 3–2.
Dormady has completed 76 of his 137 pass attempts on the season for 925 yards, six touchdowns and six interceptions. The junior has also rushed 11 times for 13 yards.
He led Tennessee to a 42–41 comeback overtime victory over Georgia Tech to start the year, but struggled with turnovers and poor decisions before being benched for redshirt freshman Jarrett Guarantano. Dormady underwent shoulder surgery and was ruled out for the remainder of the season.
Jarrett Guarantano:
The former backup to Dormady, Guarantano now serves as Tennessee’s primary quarterback. He received his first career start in the Vols’ 15–9 loss to South Carolina on Oct. 14 and has started every game except one since.
Guarantano has thrown for 814 yards, two touchdowns and one interception this year on 72-for-117 passing. The New Jersey native and dual-threat signal caller hasn’t been able to create the plays in the running game that many expected him to, currently having rushed for -26 yards on the season, but he has scored a touchdown on the ground.
Guarantano hasn’t provided the explosive offensive dynamic he is capable of so far this year, but part of that is due to inexperience and a lack of stable offensive line. Despite some starting consideration going out to Will McBride, Guarantano appears to be the Vols’ main quarterback heading into the Vanderbilt matchup and the offseason.
Will McBride:
McBride recently joined the Vols as a third-string freshman from Texas. He was expected to redshirt this season, but the season-ending injury to Dormady and an ankle ailment to Guarantano forced him into game action against Southern Miss.
McBride completed just one of his eight pass attempts against the Golden Eagles, but was hampered by multiple drops from his receivers. He started the team’s next game against Missouri (a 52–17 loss), throwing for 139 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions on 16-for-32 passing. His main attack came on the ground, though, as he rushed for 63 yards against the Tigers, leading the team.
Some analysts and fans debated whether or not Tennessee should start McBride over Guarantano following the freshman’s gutsy performance against Missouri, but Guarantano ultimately got the nod in the Vols’ 30–10 loss to LSU, as McBride didn’t dress out due to an unknown injury. Interim head coach Brady Hoke awknowldged that McBride will be available for Tennessee’s contest against Vanderbilt, though.
