Tennessee quarterback Jarrett Guarantano takes a snap during last Saturday’s home game against Florida.KNOXVILLE – Jeremy Pruitt has roughly 90 minutes on Wednesdays between addressing media after practice and walking out of the Anderson Training Center to hop in an SUV for the three-minute drive to his weekly radio call-in show.
It’s hardly enough time to complete any substantive video review, but it’s enough time to have an honest conversation.
This week, the time window offered an opportunity for a heart-to-heart talk with battered quarterback Jarrett Guarantano, who is still establishing himself as a leader for the Volunteers (2-2, 0-1 Southeastern Conference) as they prepare to play at No. 2 Georgia (4-0, 2-0) on Saturday.
“I think Jarrett – probably the biggest thing – and me and him had a conversation about it right before I came up here, is having a little bigger impact on his teammates,” Pruitt said Wednesday on the “Vol Calls” radio show. “I think he’s got that about him. I think he does have a bright future if we can keep him healthy.”
Guarantano’s play came under scrutiny in a 47-21 loss to Florida last week because he committed his first three turnovers of the season in a contest pivotal to Tennessee’s bowl chances. Backup Keller Chryst fared no better in relief of Guarantano, who left the game twice – permanently in the third quarter – with injuries.