The Vols quarterback battle continues, a happy pack of Wolfs, a host of quick hits, and a video roundup, all in today’s Vols link roundup.
Quarterbacks
Quarterback Jarrett Guarantano, who is reportedly running a close second to Quinten Dormady for the starting job, reportedly had a really good practice the other day. Some believe that practice is not especially conducive to what Guarantano does best, which is to run and evade tacklers, so news that he’s a bit of a gamer shouldn’t surprise. Guarantano does seem a bit indecisive on whether to embrace the label, though:
“I don’t want the label ‘gamer,’ but I want people to know that I am a gamer,” Guarantano said Sunday afternoon during Tennessee’s annual media day. “I think that when those bright lights are on, I’m able to really play some ball.”
Everybody wants the Vols QB to be a winner, of course, but identifying a winner before the game is played is the classic chicken and egg problem, so quarterbacks coach Mike Canales is left with what he believes is the best criteria on which to judge Dormady and Guarantano. Here’s what he’s looking for:
“You’ve got to be physically tough, you’ve got to have mobility, you’ve got to have arm strength, the ability to process information quickly,” Canales said. “I mean those things have to happen because you’ve got to be able to process what defenses are doing. I’m very into seeing how much the kids (we) recruit can process that information. I like to get to know them a little more, so you know if they can or not.
“Everybody wants the Tom Brady, the Peyton Manning, you know, the Aaron Rodgers. Everybody wants that. But they’re all unique in their own special way. They all have special strengths. It’s finding a young man that fits what you’re looking for and has great character.”
Canales did acknowledge that something “clicked” for Guarantano the other day and also insisted that he’s still a candidate to start.
And in case you think that whatever decision is made first is made forever, John Adams pipes up with a little Vols quarterback history to remind us that the guy who starts isn’t always the guy who finishes.
Eli Wolf earns a scholly
You may not have known this, but tight end Ethan Wolf’s younger brother Eli, also a tight end for the team, didn’t have a scholarship until a couple of days ago, when this happened:
.@EliWolf16 scored a BIG WIN in today’s Circle of Life … 🍊🏈 pic.twitter.com/k9sZWtvN26
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) August 15, 2017
That guy he was supposed to go up against in the Circle of Life drill was his brother, and Eli said that once the whistle blew he was only thinking about “puttting him on his butt.” Ethan was also surprised by the announcement, and Dad enjoyed the moment, as well.
Quick Hits
- SB Nation has a good Xs and Os piece on the Vols’ upcoming game against Georgia Tech.
- Jones is looking for playmakers. Maybe it’s receivers Marquez Callaway and/or Brandon Johnson, who are helping to show that the receiving corps is maybe deeper and better than we think.
- Receiver Jacquez Jones will miss the season with a knee injury. Speedy and complete recovery, young man. That makes three for the season: offensive linemen Chance Hall and K’Rojhn Calbert, and Jones.
- Offensive line coach Walt Wells likes what he’s seeing from redshirt freshman Ryan Johnson.
- Linebacker Quart’e Sapp has been declared “fully cleared.”
- Tight end LaTrell Bumphus and defensive back Theo Jackson have both had their black stripes removed.
- Defensive back Justin Martin, who’s continuing to gain confidence, and receiver Jajuan Jennings are using the old iron-on-iron thing to make each other better.
- Kick returner Evan Berry on offense? Maybe, but his priorities are kick returner and safety. Oh, and getting healthy, although he’s at least dressed out for practice, so it must not be anything too concerning.
- Freshman kicker Brent Cimaglia is challenging senior Aaron Medley for field goal duties, although I did hear Medley say the other day that he felt better about his accuracy from long distance now.
- If you’re just now getting the football itch and need to catch up on some of the new Vols, GoVols247 has a 10-click slideshow with blurbs on some of the guys that could make an early impact.
- According to 247Sports, Tennessee is now emphasizing grit on the recruiting trail. Not grits. Grit. Toughness. What they’re calling “competitive character.” It’s another tweak that comes as a response to the late-season collapse last year.
Video roundup
#Vols @JohnsonJakob and @Kongbo_1 say "The Vols are going to win the SEC" in their native tongues (German and French) @darrelltaylorst: pic.twitter.com/Pa7C2qDvof
— Luke Slabaugh (@LukeWBIR) August 14, 2017