Guarantano: Competing for Tennessee's starting QB role 'like a dream come true'

Jarrett Guarantano often catches himself daydreaming about Sept. 4.

He pictures the Tennessee football team running onto the field at the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta preparing to play Georgia Tech in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff.

But Guarantano knows he must remain focused on the present if he wants his ideal vision to become a reality.

After a year waiting on the sideline, the redshirt freshman quarterback took part in his first spring practice on Tuesday as a candidate to replace Joshua Dobbs as the starter behind center.

“It’s 100 percent more exciting. It is like a dream come true now that I get to compete for the job,” Guarantano said. “Last summer, I got in and I knew I would be third and all those types of things. Now that I have the chance to compete, it’s a whirlwind and I am just excited to get started.”

Guarantano and junior Quinten Dormady are the main contenders for the starting job among a UT quarterback group that also includes redshirt sophomore Sheriron Jones, true freshman Will McBride and redshirt sophomore Zac Jancek.

Dormady has the edge in experience, having been the backup to Dobbs the last two seasons. The Texas native has appeared in 10 games, completing 24 of 39 passes for 357 yards and one touchdown.

“I think going into this spring it’s about being consistent and having attention to details and doing the little things,” Dormady said. “That is why I am out here trying to work and just making all the throws.”

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Although they are competing for the job, the quarterbacks have remained good friends.

“We are always helping each other out,” Dormady said. “Like I said, it’s constant competition whether it be in the meeting room answering questions or even out on the field, so it’s the same in there as it is out here.”

UT coach Butch Jones was pleased with how the quarterbacks performed in the first of 15 spring practices.

“I have liked their approach and we talked about again, compete don’t compare, and I thought they commanded the line of scrimmage very well,” Jones said. “Now the installation will pick up and there is a lot of new things going on installation-wise, things that we haven’t done before, new drills that we haven’t done before and we are seeing how they respond - how they respond to controlled chaos.”

Although Guarantano didn’t enjoy being on the sideline during games last season, the four-star recruit from New Jersey believes redshirting was in his best interest.

“I think that it did a lot much better for me than it did worse,” Guarantano said. “It was very difficult coming from where I came from and all the things I had accomplished in high school coming in. But I think it was a reality check and I think it did a lot much better for me.”

Since he’s arrived at UT, Guarantano has been developing into a more compete quarterback.

“I think I was just a gunslinger and I wanted to come out here and kind of get completions and all those type of things," said Guarantano, who spent spring break in San Diego last week working with quarterback guru George Whitfield. “Now I am just out here leading and leading the offense and getting us in the right position and just trying to lead in all aspects on and off the field.”

Guarantano credits the mentorship he received from Dobbs as a key part of his growth.

“Josh helped me out more than anybody could have possibly. I think he was the best quarterback for that job, helping me out,” Guarantano said. “I was able to watch all the ups and downs of the season. I was able to watch how he reacted to things. He had a great season last year. He was able to throw the ball, to run the ball well and I think that all those things really helped me prepare for this upcoming season.”

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As much as he wants to be the starter, Guarantano wants to avoid pressing too much and inhibiting his natural ability.

“It’s hard coming out here doing that because you know every single little action is being watched and being filmed,” Guarantano said. “But we came here to be the best, so that is what it is going to take.”

Jones hasn’t established a timeline for naming a starting quarterback and the competition may stretch deep into fall. Even though knowing the future may ease some angst, the quarterbacks are trusting the process.

“We were told just to take things one day a time and get better each day,” Guarantano said. “And whatever happens, happens along the way.”

Follow Rhiannon Potkey on Twitter: @TennesseeBeat