KNOXVILLE – When depth charts were released for Georgia Tech and Tennessee this week, the Yellow Jackets listed four quarterbacks as co-starters, while the Volunteers listed Quinten Dormady and Jarrett Guarantano as co-starters.
Despite all the secrecy, Tennessee coach Butch Jones isn’t stressed about who will take the first snaps of the season for either team.
“Through video study and everything that goes into it, we have a pretty good idea who the quarterback will be for us,” Jones said Friday, “and we have a pretty good idea about who the quarterback will be for them as well.”
Tennessee’s QB competition has been talked about ever since the end of last year’s Music City Bowl, when Josh Dobbs played his final game for the Vols, but Jones has given few hints in advance of Monday night’s opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
However, last week running back John Kelly hinted at the fact that the team knew who the starting quarterback was, and Jones didn’t deny that Friday.
“We met with all of the quarterbacks,” Jones said, “and kind of went through the game plan and what we expect and those expectations, and that dialogue is always ongoing. So we’re always in communication with them.”
Opportunity knocks
Despite having a few veterans among their running backs and wide receivers, the Vols will rely on younger players at those positions Monday.
The Vols return Kelly at running back and Tyler Byrd, Jauan Jennings and Josh Smith at wide receiver but will need more players to step up at those positions.
At running back, sophomore Carlin Fils-aime is listed as the backup with a trio of freshmen – Ty Chandler, Tim Jordan and Trey Coleman – close behind. Most are expected to play in the opener.
“As we know, you can never have enough healthy running backs,” Jones said. “The entire running back group has done a really really good job. Like I said, it’s a body of work over a long period of time. Now they get an opportunity in a great environment, in a great stage, to go put the fruits of their labor on video.
“But we anticipate playing a number of backs on Monday night.”
At wide receiver, freshman Josh Palmer is listed as a co-starter. Byrd, Marquez Callaway and Brandon Johnson – all sophomores – are poised for significant playing time.
“We anticipate all of them playing right now,” Jones said. “That’s an extremely young group, and we’re going to have to rely on the game experience of Jauan Jennings and of a Josh Smith, if he’s able to play. You have some individuals who have some playing experience in Brandon Johnson and some of those.
“That’s a group where we’re going to have to play some youngsters and they’re going to have to grow up in a hurry.”
Honorary captains
Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game officials announced former players Calvin Johnson (Georgia Tech) and Chuck Smith (Tennessee) will serve as honorary captains for their alma maters on Monday.
Smith played defensive end at Tennessee from 1990-91, earning earn All-SEC honors in 1991. That season, he totaled nine quarterback sacks as Tennessee advanced to the Fiesta Bowl. Smith was named MVP at the Senior Bowl and was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the second round of the 1992 NFL Draft. He spent eight seasons in Atlanta, earning an All-Pro selection in 1997 and captaining his team to Super Bowl XXXIII in 1998.
Johnson played for the Yellow Jackets from 2004 to ’06, was a two-time All-American and set program records for receiving yards (2,927) and touchdown catches (28) in a career. He was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2007 NFL draft and spent all nine seasons of his pro career with the Detroit Lions before retiring after the 2015 season. He set an NFL record for receiving yards in a season with 1,964 in 2012.
Contact Rob Harvey at sports@timesfreepress.com.