Pruitt keeps WVU, Vols guessing on starting QB
Jeremy Pruitt will keep West Virginia – and his own players – guessing as to who will start at quarterback for Tennessee on Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET, CBS) in Charlotte, N.C.
The Vols released the first depth chart of Pruitt’s coaching tenure on Monday, and although it declared projected starters at several positions, at 10 positions, it listed multiple players as co-starters.
That includes quarterback, where either Jarrett Guarantano or Keller Chryst will start.
That’s been the operating belief all along.
Pruitt said entering August practice that there would be a four-man competition for the job, but those not subscribing to coach-speak knew the Vols would start Guarantano, the sophomore who started six games last year, or Chryst, a graduate transfer who started 13 games at Stanford.
“Obviously, they both want to start, and they’ve both done a tremendous job,” wide receiver Marquez Callaway said.
If Pruitt has decided on his starting quarterback, he hasn’t told the players, Callaway said.
Players just know “that they’re going to put the best person out, and we’re going to do what we can,” Callaway said. “Obviously, I would like to know now, but it doesn’t work like that. We’re just going to have to wait and find out.”
Guarantano navigated this month as the frontrunner for the job after exiting the spring as the leader in the clubhouse. Chryst joined the team during the summer.
The quarterback competition was a prevailing theme of last year’s preseason, too, and there was some thought that the Vols might play two quarterbacks in their season opener against Georgia Tech. However, Quinten Dormady won the job and played the whole game as UT won 42-41 in double overtime.
Guarantano came off the bench the next week and took over the job midseason.
Trey Smith to protect QB's blind side
Pruitt will use sophomore Trey Smith, his best lineman, at left tackle. Smith started nine games at guard last season and three at tackle.
“Trey is a guy that’s a pretty good pass protector, and he has good size and is a solid run blocker,” Pruitt said. “To me, if you want to play who you think might be your best pass protector, it would be at the left tackle.”
Brandon Kennedy, a graduate transfer from Alabama, also has a hold on a starting spot, at center. At the other spots, no starter has been declared, at least according to the depth chart.
At left guard, the Vols will start Jahmir Johnson or Riley Locklear, while Ryan Johnson and Jerome Carvin are battling for right guard. Right tackle is a competition among Drew Richmond, Marcus Tatum and Chance Hall.
Jahmir Johnson is a junior-college transfer who has come on strong after being sidelined at the start of preseason practice with an illness.
“He’s learning our expectations on how to practice and how we want things done,” Pruitt said, “but he does have some good upside about him. He’s a good competitor.”
Other depth chart notables
The Vols’ lineup is much more set on defense, where there are nine declared starters.
Undetermined spots are weak-side linebacker, where the Vols will go with Darrin Kirkland Jr. or Quart’e Sapp, and a cornerback position, where a freshman will start – either Alontae Taylor or Bryce Thompson.
Brent Cimaglia has earned the starting kicking job, but Pruitt hasn’t decided between walk-on Joe Doyle or true freshman Paxton Brooks at punter.
“I could see both of these guys kicking for us this fall,” Pruitt said of the punters.