KNOXVILLE – Jarrett Guarantano had trouble sleeping and could hardly bring himself to eat as his first collegiate start neared.
“I was very nervous,” the redshirt freshman from New Jersey said. “I was very anxious.”
But after one snap, Guarantano said, his nerves calmed. The young quarterback led Tennessee on a scoring drive to start the game and within 2 yards of a potential winning drive at the end of Saturday’s 15-9 loss to South Carolina at Neyland Stadium.
There were plenty of hiccups in between, but Guarantano’s effort left his coach and teammates impressed.
“He was incredible,” senior left guard Brett Kendrick said. “I don’t know what else he could have done. What else can we ask him to do? Ran the ball when we needed it, took some hits. I thought his poise was incredible at the end of the game there – first start, to lead us on a game-winning drive.”
Guarantano’s most glaring statistical blemish was the seven sacks he took, two of them coming on first-half trips to the red zone that resulted in field goals. But Guarantano also flashed speed – especially early in the game – that added a fresh element to Tennessee’s ailing offense.
Most important to coach Butch Jones was Guarantano’s protection of the football against a South Carolina team that scored three defensive touchdowns in a win over Arkansas the week before.
“We didn’t turn the football over, a young man making his first start at quarterback,” Jones said. “I thought he did some good things. I thought he showed some poise. He was never rattled. He was always in the defensive huddle when they were on the field. I like a lot of things I saw to build upon, and we have to continue to get better. We just have to go back to work.”
Though it was his first start, Guarantano had played in three of Tennessee’s first five games, earning mixed reviews for his relief duty of Quinten Dormady.
Guarantano said it was “absolutely” tough to initially lose the offseason quarterback competition with Dormady and have to wait for his opportunity. Dormady played the entirety of Tennessee’s 42-41 season-opening win over Georgia Tech.
“Just being a competitor, I think that there were times where I was distraught and it was visible,” Guarantano said. “Definitely the first game. I think from that point I kind of understood my role and that I just have to keep working to get better. Of course it hurt. I went home upset at times. It definitely, definitely hurt. But I think it was for the better.”
Guarantano showed emotion on the field Saturday, pumping his arms in celebration after a 30-yard run by freshman running back Ty Chandler in the first quarter that was aided by a downfield block from Guarantano.
Later, he ignited a crowd of 98,104 when he popped up from a first-down run and offered a demonstrative first-down motion with his right hand.
“I think just being able to do something like this, something I dreamed of since I was very little, I think it’s fulfilled my dreams,” Guarantano said. “I’m thankful for this opportunity.”
Contact David Cobb at dcobb@timesfreepress.com.