JOHN ADAMS

John Adams: Tennessee's late spring start tests patience of QBs

John Adams

USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee

Tennessee’s Quinten Dormady and Jarrett Guarantano must envy SEC teams that already have started spring practice. The two quarterbacks have waited long enough to compete for UT’s starting job.

Quarterback Jarrett Guarantano during practice on Thursday, August 11, 2016. (SAUL YOUNG/NEWS SENTINEL)

Dormady has served as Joshua Dobbs’ backup since he signed with the Vols in 2015. Guarantano was redshirted last season as a freshman. Think they aren’t eager to begin the competition?

But they still have more than a week to wait before the Vols begin spring practice March 21. Of course, by the time the drills conclude with the spring game April 22, it’s unlikely anything will be determined.

Rarely do college coaches finalize a quarterback competition in the spring. Instead, the competition is more likely to continue right up until the season opener.

That’s enough time for a third quarterback, Sheriron Jones, to be a factor. But that would be an upset. He fell behind Dormady in 2015 when both were freshmen competing for the backup role behind Joshua Dobbs.

The Dormady-Guarantano competition is especially interesting because the winner will determine the kind of offense Tennessee fans will see in the fall.

Quinten Dormady ready for his shot to start at Tennessee

Dormady’s skills are best suited for a pro-style passing game. Guarantano, who can run as well as pass, would fit nicely into the offense that showcased Dobbs as one of the best running quarterbacks in the country.

Guarantano’s running ability ultimately might decide the competition in his favor, just as Jalen Hurts’ athleticism enabled him to win Alabama’s starting job last fall as a true freshman.

You know what happened next. Blake Barnett, who started Alabama’s season opener against Southern California, transferred after Hurts claimed the starting job. Another Alabama quarterback, Cooper Bateman, at least waited until the end of the season to transfer.

Tennessee quarterback Quinten Dormady throws a pass against Vanderbilt in 2015 at Neyland Stadium.

Surely, the loser of the Guarantano-Dormady would transfer. No matter how happy either one might be at Tennessee, he can’t afford to stick around if he wants to further his career.

Dormady already has waited two years and Guarantano, one. Going through another season as a non-starter wouldn’t help either one since both have NFL aspirations.

The only other option – and it’s rarely implemented – is a two-quarterback system. Tennessee tried it in 2004 with two freshmen, Erik Ainge and Brent Schaeffer. Ainge was the better passer; Schaefer, the better runner.

Randy Sanders, UT’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the time, actually made it work. The Vols won seven of their first eight games, losing only to an Auburn, which finished the season unbeaten.

Unfortunately for the Vols, injuries sabotaged their grand plan. Schaefer suffered a season-ending injury in a victory over South Carolina, and Ainge was injured the following week in a loss to Notre Dame. Tennessee then turned to Rick Clausen to quarterback them to the SEC championship game and a 10-3 finish.

Don’t expect Tennessee to be that creative this time. Instead, it likely will choose between Guarantano and Dormady.

And by the time it makes a decision, both quarterbacks should have their exit strategy planned – just in case.

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

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