KNOXVILLE – For the third time this month, the Tennessee Volunteers are dealing with uncertainty at quarterback.
Only this time, instead of questions about who will start Saturday’s Southeastern Conference game against South Carolina, the Volunteers are pretty sure who is likely not to be behind center.
Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt said Wednesday during the weekly SEC teleconference that freshman Brian Maurer was “probably doubtful” to play against the visiting Gamecocks (3-4, 2-3). Maurer sustained a concussion in the first quarter of last week’s 35-13 loss at top-ranked Alabama, and on Wednesday he was at Vanderbilt Medical Center for further testing.
He hasn’t practiced all week, meaning his absence would leave Tennessee (2-5, 1-3) with redshirt junior Jarrett Guarantano and redshirt freshman J.T. Shrout as the lone scholarship options at quarterback for the 4 p.m. game that will be televised by the SEC Network.
“We’re giving both the same amount of reps,” Pruitt said. “We’re down to two (scholarship) quarterbacks for probably this week, and J.T.’s not taking as many reps in the last couple of weeks. Both of them are taking the same amount of reps. Obviously Jarrett has way more experience and has taken more reps in the offense over the last seven, eight weeks, so catching J.T. up, getting him locked in, doing some things that he’s comfortable with is important for our staff and important for him.”