ORLANDO, Fla. – As much as Jarrett Guarantano would like to make the 70-minute drive west on I-4 on Friday to watch his future team play its final game without him, the quarterback’s schedule won’t allow it.
The long-time Tennessee commitment has his own game to play Saturday.
Guarantano and cornerback Marquill Osborne are the two future Volunteers on the roster for Saturday’s Under Armour All-American Game at the Citrus Bowl, which will air at noon on ESPN2, but this week’s practice schedule conflicts with the noon kickoff of Tennessee’s Outback Bowl game against Northwestern in Tampa.
The New Jersey native’s best hope might be lobbying his Under Armour coaches for the day off.
Jarrett Guarantano“I wish I could do that,” Guarantano said Wednesday after practice at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. “I’ve got to (talk to coaches) tomorrow when they’re feeling good about themselves.”
Of course, the competitive Guarantano perhaps is more eager about showcasing his own talents Saturday in one of the nation’s premier high school all-star games.
The 6-foot-4, 194-pounder is the nation’s No. 2 dual-threat quarterback and the No. 31 overall player, according to Rivals, meaning a good showing in Orlando could warrant a fifth star from the recruiting service.
He had his sharp moments Wednesday. Guarantano’s best throw of the day came during a seven-on-seven drill when he was rolling to his left and threw across his body to a well-covered receiver along the sideline. He spent most of the team periods on the run as his offensive line struggled to protect him, but he still made some good throws outside the pocket.
“The rankings are cool and everything,” Guarantano said, “but it’s kind of about getting better and measuring myself up to the best kids in the country.”
His senior season at Bergen Catholic didn’t go as planned. Guarantano missed four games with a foot injury before returning for a narrow playoff loss in late November. In seven games, Guarantano completed 121 of 177 passes for 1,484 yards and 11 touchdowns with three interceptions and ran for 274 yards and six touchdowns.
Guarantano picked Tennessee months before, selecting the Vols over Ohio State and Rutgers last spring.
His father, James, has been good friends with Vols head coach Butch Jones for more than two decades dating back to their days at Rutgers. James was a star wide receiver for the Scarlet Knights – he wound up in the school’s hall of fame in 1999 – while Jones was a graduate assistant who helped coach receivers. They’ve kept in touch since.
Guarantano admitted he’ll start counting down the days until he starts his Tennessee career once he returns to New Jersey after Saturday’s game. He’ll take his official visit to Knoxville at the end of January, the final weekend before signing day. Then the Vols are scheduled to host a group slated to include some of its top remaining targets.
“Once I sign, I don’t know how the rules are,” he said. “I don’t know if I could or not, but I’m definitely going to start early and try to get in my playbook as fast as I can. That’s going to be the easy part. Then I’ve got to get to camp, and everything’s going to speed up and get faster. I’m getting a little glimpse of that now.”
When he does join the Vols, Guarantano will add to a talented group of quarterbacks.
Josh Dobbs is 13-8 as Tennessee’s starter. Quinten Dormady and Sheriron Jones were both four-star 2015 signees. Dormady handled backup duties this season while Jones redshirted, but the latter’s dual-threat ability and added strength make him an intriguing player to watch this spring.
Tennessee’s quarterback situation beyond Dobbs’ senior season in 2016 will be very interesting.
“I know Sheriron pretty well, and I’ve been with Josh every time I go down,” Guarantano said. “We have pretty good relationships. I’m just excited to have a good group of guys around me.
“I’m looking to go in, and I’m going to have the mindset of I’m starting. I obviously know I’m not. We have a great player in front of me, but I’m going to have the mindset that I’m starting. That’s how I’m going to prepare each and every week.”
Guarantano, who has drawn comparisons to Clemson’s Deshaun Watson, likes the fact that how Tennessee used Dobbs this season should match his skill set, and he’s built a better relationship with his future offensive coordinator through three meetings with Mike DeBord earlier this month.
“That offense fits me perfectly,” he said, “and I’m just really excited that I have the chance to play at the University of Tennessee.”
Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com.