Tennessee football coach Jeremy Pruitt will make his debut appearance at SEC Media Days on Wednesday. The Times Free Press is previewing key topics Pruitt likely will be asked to address.
How is the quarterback battle shaping up?
A key preseason storyline is especially intriguing for Tennessee this season as two new contestants enter a race shrouded in the unknowns of a new coaching staff and the nuances of its offensive system.
Redshirt sophomore Jarrett Guarantano and graduate transfer Keller Chryst have been cast as the favorites to win the starting job, but Pruitt likely will emphasize the competition is wide open. That means preseason practices will begin Aug. 3 with a four-man battle that includes sophomore Will McBride and freshman J.T. Shrout.
Guarantano did well in April's spring game, but some connected to the program have indicated his standout performance did not reflect the separation between him and McBride throughout spring practices.
Each gained the first playing experience of his college career last season while operating behind an injury-plagued offensive line and with a youthful receiving corps. Both showed flashes of talent as the Volunteers struggled to a 4-8 record under the previous coaching staff.
Seeking to inject a veteran presence in the program's quarterback room and add depth, Pruitt sought a graduate transfer and wound up with Chryst, a former Stanford starter.
Chryst's experience and reputation as a game manager make him a potential match for Tennessee because Pruitt has emphasized the importance of minimizing mistakes and turnovers on offense. But with Chryst having just one season of eligibility, will the staff decide it's more important to immerse a potential quarterback of the future in playing time as soon as possible?
Pruitt previously suggested the quarterback battle could extend to the Sept. 1 season opener against West Virginia at the Belk College Kickoff in Charlotte, North Carolina, but his remarks Wednesday could provide some insight into how the competition is shaping up. What did Guarantano gain from his experience this month at the Manning Passing Academy? How has the team responded to Chryst since he enrolled this summer? Is the staff set on trying to redshirt Shrout this season?
Contact David Cobb at dcobb@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DavidWCobb and on Facebook at facebook.com/volsupdate\