HOOVER, Ala. – Jarrett Guarantano stood in New York’s Times Square in April of 2015, ready to make a commitment to the college of his choice.
Tennessee was a finalist, as were Rutgers – the hometown favorites for the quarterback from Lodi, New Jersey – and Ohio State.
“This is my decision. Nobody else’s,” Guarantano proclaimed that day. “I worked too many mornings, too many late nights, not to do what’s best for me. No more noise. No more clutter. No more distractions.
“I’m ready for what the future holds,” he said, then added: “Knoxville, Tennessee, here I come.”
It was considered then a huge recruiting win for then-Volunteers coach Butch Jones, as in theory the program would have an easy transition from then-senior quarterback Josh Dobbs to Guarantano, a highly regarded prospect at the time.