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Tennessee football 2017 breakdown: QBs Quinten Dormady, Jarrett Guarantano should both play opener

John Adams
Knoxville
Vols quarterback Quinten Dormady (12) takes a break during practice at Anderson Training Facility on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2017.

This is the eighth in a series evaluating how Tennessee stands at each position for the 2017 football season. 

The evaluation of Tennessee quarterback candidates has been intricately detailed, as Butch Jones pointed out at media day.

The UT coach said quarterbacks Quinten Dormady and Jarrett Guarantano were even videotaped as they ran from one practice drill to the next. And Jones also has taken notice of how the quarterbacks interact with their teammates.

► More:Find out when Vols play | 2017 Tennessee football schedule: Dates, times, TV and radio info

But there’s one thing the camera can’t detect and Jones can’t assess: How will the quarterbacks perform on game night?

He will have to wait for Tennessee’s season opener in Atlanta for that. That's reason enough to play both quarterbacks against Georgia Tech.

Dormady, a 6-foot-4 strong-armed passer from Boerne, Texas, at least has college experience, limited though it might be. He backed up starter Joshua Dobbs the past two seasons.

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He has 24 completions in 39 attempts for 357 yards and one touchdown. The most recent spring game validated his passing ability. He went 10-for-10.

In practice, he has demonstrated accuracy as well as arm strength. And although he is characterized as a pocket passer, he believes his running ability is underrated.

“Absolutely,” he said at media day. “I can get out of the pocket and run when I need to.”

Vols quarterback Jarrett Guarantano (2) lines up a pass during practice Aug. 18, 2017.

No one questions the running ability of Guarantano, who was redshirted last season as a freshman. The highlight videotape he compiled at Bergen Catholic (N.J.) High School included a mixture of open-field running and big-time throws.

However, his running skills are minimized in practice because Tennessee doesn’t expose its quarterbacks to contact. That’s another reason for playing both quarterbacks against Georgia Tech next Monday.

Freshman Will McBride of League City, Texas, will add depth at the position. And Jones has stressed that McBride needs to prepare himself to play — just in case.

When Guarantano had to miss a practice, the reps that McBride had to receive were “eye-opening for him,” Jones said.

“I said, ‘Hey, Will, all the talk is about Quinten and Jarrett, but you’re one snap away from being No. 2 and you’re two snaps away from being the starting quarterback at Tennessee,” Jones said. “So the reps that he was able to gain were very important.”

The vet

Although Dormady has done much more sitting than playing the past two seasons, he has the advantage of having played against the high level of competition that Texas high school football offers.

He also has the advantage of having a coach for his father. He totaled nearly 6,000 yards passing in two seasons under coach Mike Dormady and was ranked as the No. 5 pro-style quarterback in the 2015 recruiting class by 247Sports.

The future

It could be Adrian Martinez, a four-star prospect in the 2018 class who already has committed to the Vols. Martinez, of Fresno, Calif., originally committed to California but changed his mind.

MORE BREAKING DOWN THE VOLS

► Defensive line has potential, needs results

► Linebackers face immediate challenge vs. Georgia Tech

► Secondary: Vols could have big hit in Nigel Warrior

► Special teams: Vols have stars in Berry, Daniel

► Offensive line: Experience plus Drew Richmond, Trey Smith

► Receivers: More than Jauan Jennings' big catches

► Running backs: Kelly can star, but Chandler may be future

He chose Tennessee over Oklahoma in May.

Martinez is No. 7 among dual-threat quarterbacks in his class, according to the composite rankings by 247Sports.

Quote

Jones on what he expects from his quarterbacks: “Consistency. Consistency in performance — taking care of the football. They don’t have to win the game, they just have to manage the game.

John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com. Follow him at: Twitter.com/johnadamskns.

More from John Adams:

Ranking Vols football opponents in degree of difficulty

Improved Vols defense to face potent, varied offenses

Vols' attrition has taken toll on Butch Jones' approval

Tennessee football history tells us QBs Quinten Dormady, Jarrett Guarantano may both excel

Vols need to be more resourceful to win SEC East

Vols' Marquez Callaway versatile enough to manage two roles

Vols quarterback transitions often have bumps, bruises

Larry Scott, Vols offensive coordinator, has tough act to follow

Evan Berry can kick-start Vols

Quick list of goals for Tennessee football's 2017 season, including no embarrassing losses