Vols’ coach Butch Jones has praises for both Quinten Dormady, Jarrett Guarantano

Butch Jones and the Vols enter the T to take the field. The Indiana State Sycamores visited the University of Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in NCAA football action of September 9, 2017. Butch Jones and the Vols enter the T to take the field. The Indiana State Sycamores visited the University of Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in NCAA football action of September 9, 2017.

By David Cobb September 12, 2017 4 min read

Photo Gallery

Vols’ two quarterbacks have big moments in 42-7 rout of Indiana State

Tennessee head coach Butch Jones greets fans along the Vol Walk. The Indiana State Sycamores visited the University of Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in NCAA football action of September 9, 2017.

The Vol Walk nears Neyland Stadium. The Indiana State Sycamores visited the University of Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in NCAA football action of September 9, 2017.

The Indiana State Sycamores visited the University of Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in NCAA football action of September 9, 2017.

Vol fans wait for the beginning of the Vol Walk. The Indiana State Sycamores visited the University of Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in NCAA football action of September 9, 2017.

Tennessee's Darrell Taylor (19) blocks the pass of Indiana State quarterback Cade Sparks (16). The Indiana State Sycamores visited the University of Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in NCAA football action of September 9, 2017.

Tennessee starting quarterback Quinten Dormady starts to unleash a touchdown pass in the Vols' 42-7 win over Indiana State on Saturday in Neyland Stadium.

Tennessee's Brandon Johnson (7) scores a touchdown after a pass reception. The Indiana State Sycamores visited the University of Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in NCAA football action of September 9, 2017.

Tennessee's Reginald McKenzie Jr. (99) celebrates a tackle that held Indiana State on fourth down.
The Indiana State Sycamores visited the University of Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in NCAA football action of September 9, 2017.

Tennessee's Cortez McDowell (20) and Todd Kelly Jr. (24) stop Indiana State quarterback Cade Sparks (16) for a loss. The Indiana State Sycamores visited the University of Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in NCAA football action of September 9, 2017.

Tennessee's Carlin Fils-Aime (27) outruns Indiana State's Jonas Griffith (46) for a touchdown. The Indiana State Sycamores visited the University of Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in NCAA football action of September 9, 2017.

Tennessee's John Kelly (4) struggles forward for yardage with a Sycamore on his back. The Indiana State Sycamores visited the University of Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in NCAA football action of September 9, 2017.

Tennessee's John Kelly (4) breaks a tackle for a long gain. The Indiana State Sycamores visited the University of Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in NCAA football action of September 9, 2017.

Tennessee's John Kelly (4) tries to get outside. The Indiana State Sycamores visited the University of Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in NCAA football action of September 9, 2017.

Tennessee's Eli Wolf (80) looks downfield after a pass reception. Wolf was injured on the play. The Indiana State Sycamores visited the University of Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in NCAA football action of September 9, 2017.

Ethan Wolf (82) and Butch Jones check on the injured Eli Wolf (80). The two Wolfs are brothers. The Indiana State Sycamores visited the University of Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in NCAA football action of September 9, 2017.

Tennessee's Jeff George (19) goes up for a pass over Indiana State's Corey Hicks (22). The Indiana State Sycamores visited the University of Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in NCAA football action of September 9, 2017.

Tennessee's John Kelly (4) tries to shake loose of Indiana State's Jonas Griffith (46). The Indiana State Sycamores visited the University of Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in NCAA football action of September 9, 2017.

Tennessee's Colton Jumper (53) slows Indiana State's Jaquet McClendon (15). The Indiana State Sycamores visited the University of Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in NCAA football action of September 9, 2017.

Tennessee's Ty Chandler (3) tries to avoid the tackle of Indiana State's Lonnie Walker II (2). The Indiana State Sycamores visited the University of Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in NCAA football action of September 9, 2017.

Tennessee's Rashaan Gaulden (7) brings down Indiana State's LeMonte Booker (6). Colton Jumper (53) moves in to assist. The Indiana State Sycamores visited the University of Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in NCAA football action of September 9, 2017.

Tennessee's Jonathan Kongbo (1) stops Indiana States's LeMonte Booker (6) in the backfield. The Indiana State Sycamores visited the University of Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in NCAA football action of September 9, 2017.

Butch Jones cheers after Ty Chandler returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown. The Indiana State Sycamores visited the University of Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in NCAA football action of September 9, 2017.

Tennessee's Ty Chandler breaks into the open on the way to a 91-yard kickoff return on the first play of Saturday's game at Neyland Stadium, a 42-7 win for the host Volunteers.

Tennessee's Marquez Callaway (1) escapes a Sycamore tackler to score a 3rd quarter touchdown. The Indiana State Sycamores visited the University of Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in NCAA football action of September 9, 2017.

Tennessee quarterback Jarrett Guarantano (2) scrambles for a big 4th quarter gain. The Indiana State Sycamores visited the University of Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in NCAA football action of September 9, 2017.

Tennessee's Tim Jordan (9) hurdles a blocker as he escapes a Sycamore tackler. The Indiana State Sycamores visited the University of Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in NCAA football action of September 9, 2017.

Tennessee's Alexis Johnson (98) pressures Sycamore quarterback Isaac Harker (14). The Indiana State Sycamores visited the University of Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in NCAA football action of September 9, 2017.

Tennessee's Tim Jordan (9) breaks several tackles on the way to a first down. The Indiana State Sycamores visited the University of Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in NCAA football action of September 9, 2017.

Tennessee's Eli Wolf returned to the field on crutches in the second half. The Indiana State Sycamores visited the University of Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in NCAA football action of September 9, 2017.

Tennessee's Kyle Phillips (5) gets a hold of Indiana State's LeMonte Booker's (6) jersey. The Indiana State Sycamores visited the University of Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in NCAA football action of September 9, 2017.

Tennessee quarterback Jarrett Guarantano (2) picks up a first down. The Indiana State Sycamores visited the University of Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in NCAA football action of September 9, 2017.

Tennessee quarterback Jarrett Guarantano (2) directs the offense. The Indiana State Sycamores visited the University of Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in NCAA football action of September 9, 2017.

Tennessee's Kyle Phillips (5) plays at defensive end. The Indiana State Sycamores visited the University of Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in NCAA football action of September 9, 2017.

Tennessee's Colton Jumper (53) tackles Indiana State's LeMonte Booker (6). The Indiana State Sycamores visited the University of Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in NCAA football action of September 9, 2017.

KNOXVILLE – The tone of Butch Jones’ quarterback assessment did not change Monday. Tennessee’s fifth-year football coach has yet to verbally anoint junior Quinten Dormady as the team’s starting quarterback.

But with a road game at Florida next on the Volunteers’ schedule, Dormady appears clearly established as the team’s starting quarterback ahead of challenger Jarrett Guarantano, who made his collegiate debut in Tennessee’s 42-7 win over Indiana State on Saturday.

“I thought Quinten continued to improve,” Jones said in his weekly news conference. “I thought his footwork was better. I thought his accuracy for the most part improved. I liked his game management with some checks at the line of the scrimmage.

“But we have to take care of the football. The quarterback is the caretaker of the football, and he understands that.”

Tennessee starting quarterback Quinten Dormady starts to unleash a touchdown pass in the Vols’ 42-7 win over Indiana State on Saturday in Neyland Stadium.

Tennessee quarterback Jarrett Guarantano (2) scrambles for a big 4th quarter gain. The Indiana State Sycamores visited the University of Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in NCAA football action of September 9, 2017.

Dormady committed his first two turnovers of the season on consecutive possessions in the the third quarter against Indiana State. The junior also threw two touchdown passes, bringing his season total to four just days after he led the Volunteers (2-0) back from a 14-point deficit in a season-opening win over Georgia Tech.