UT Vols: Jeremy Pruitt has options at quarterback?

John Adams
Knoxville
Tennessee quarterback Jarrett Guarantano (2) passes against Vanderbilt in a game Nov. 25.

When new Tennessee football coach Jeremy Pruitt was asked at his introductory press conference whether he would run the same defensive scheme as Alabama, he said it depended on what best suited his personnel.

As logical as that sounded, it doesn’t always apply. Some coaches are so determined to implement their system and schemes that they force their available players into them no matter what the cost.

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Once a coach has a chance to build a roster with his recruits, he can align them according to his preference. In the meantime, he needs to be pragmatic.

Since Pruitt’s background in coaching is on the defensive side, it’s reasonable to ask whether Tennessee would run a 3-4 defensive alignment as Alabama did. But you also have to wonder about what he will do offensively in his first head-coaching job.

And that should prompt the question: "How will it affect Tennessee’s quarterbacks?"

There are four quarterbacks to consider.

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Junior Quinten Dormady began the 2017 season as the starter before being replaced by Jarrett Guarantano. When Guarantano suffered an ankle injury, freshman Will McBride got his first college start.

Don’t forget about Adrian Martinez, either. The four-star, dual-threat quarterback from Fresno, Calif., committed to Tennessee last spring.

Through all the uncertainty and eventual firing of former coach Butch Jones, Martinez hasn’t backed out of that commitment. But he has visited other schools.

And probably none of those schools have three quarterbacks with starting experience. However, that might not discourage Martinez.

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Never mind the depth at quarterback. Although all three Tennessee quarterbacks showed flashes of talent, they also revealed weaknesses. So it’s not as though Martinez would be competing with a sure-fire All-SEC quarterback for playing time.

Dormady demonstrated a strong arm and performed well under pressure in his first few starts, but his play dropped off thereafter. You can’t be sure how much a shoulder injury, which eventually required surgery, figured into his decline. In fact, you can’t be sure that Dormady even will return to the Vols.

Guarantano’s arm strength was evident right away. He became more accurate with more playing time. And playing behind an offensive line shredded by injuries, he proved his durability while being sacked and hit repeatedly.

McBride seems to have a knack for playing the position. His confidence and poise were evident right away. He also proved to be a better runner than either Dormady or Guarantano.

Which one will earn Pruitt’s confidence?

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Pruitt’s teams won with different types of quarterbacks when he was an assistant coach. Alabama won national titles with Greg McElroy and A.J. McCarron. Both were great game managers, and McCarron also was an accurate passer.

Florida State won a national title with Jameis Winston, a redshirt freshman who made up for his lack of experience with the kind of talent that would make him a first-round NFL draft pick. Not only was he an exceptional passer, but he also was a threat as a runner.

You would think any coach with a defensive background would most value a quarterback who didn’t put his defense in harm’s way through careless play. However, a defensive coordinator also knows the challenge of defending a dual-threat quarterback who can overcome a perfectly executed scheme with sheer athleticism.

Pruitt won’t have to decide on his quarterback right away. He will have spring practice and preseason practice to determine that.

But he can affect his quarterback talent pool right away if he can keep Martinez on aboard.

Reach John Adams at john.adams@knoxnews.com or 865-342-6284 and on Twitter @johnadamskns.