KNOXVILLE - While the young hotshot may be generating more of the conversation regarding Tennessee's starting quarterback competition, Quinten Dormady remains quietly confident in his own chances.
As he should be.
Dormady was the backup for the Volunteers the past two seasons, so he had to remain ready to come in and perform at a moment's notice in case something happened to Josh Dobbs.
Quinten Dormady participates in the Vols' first spring practice of 2017. Dormady, who served two seasons as the backup for Josh Dobbs, is competing against redshirt freshman Jarrett Guarantano for the starting QB role.
The durable Dobbs rarely gave Dormady the opportunity to show his skills, but the junior now has the chance to do so in what should be an intriguing, heated and lengthy duel with redshirt freshman Jarrett Guarantano.
"I've been there," Dormady said Tuesday afternoon following Tennessee's first spring practice. "This is my third spring. I've been through the ups and downs, and when you do hit a down, it's just trying to level back off and regroup and, like Coach (Butch Jones) says, just snap and clear and move on to the next thing."
Both quarterbacks were sharp with their throws during the open portion of Tuesday's practice as the Vols kicked off spring drills with a workout in helmets and shorts.
It was the start of a competition that could continue deep into the preseason in August.
Dormady was all business and almost stoic in meeting with the media after practice, but he kept referencing the importance of consistency determining who will emerge in the race.
"I'm just trying to be myself," the Texas native said. "I'm not going to change. The only thing, like I've said, is just trying to be consistent. That's the biggest thing. I'm not going to change who I am for something. I am who I am, and I've been that way for 21 years."
Although it'd be foolish to put too much stock into, it is worth noting it was Dormady who took snaps from Coleman Thomas, the incumbent starter at center, and went first in every drill during the early periods of practice.
More than half (21) of Dormady's career passes (39) came in mop-up duty in blowouts of Football Championship Subdivision opponents Western Carolina and Tennessee Tech the past two seasons, so his edge over the other quarterbacks can be considered marginal.
It can't be overlooked, though, because it ought to help him be steady throughout the course of the competition.
"There's always things to improve on. No one's perfect," Dormady said. "I'm just trying to be consistent. My strengths, I feel like I can make all the throws. On top of that it's being consistent, like I've said."
Quick hitters
* Safety Stephen Griffin is no longer part of Tennessee's football program and intends to transfer in search of more playing time. As a sophomore last season he made 13 tackles in 11 games with one start against Vanderbilt. After coming into the game for the injured Todd Kelly Jr., Griffin had a key forced fumble in the win against Kentucky.
Griffin played in just eight games as a reserve and special-teamer during his freshman season.
* After playing at defensive end last season, oft-injured redshirt sophomore Austin Smith has moved back to linebacker, where he played in all 13 games in 2015 with three tackles and started against Vanderbilt in the regular-season finale. The 6-foot-3, 236-pounder missed all of last season due to multiple shoulder surgeries.
* Redshirt freshman Ja'Quain Blakely, formerly a linebacker, was working with the defensive line Tuesday.
* Defensive tackle Kahlil McKenzie, who missed the last half of last season after tearing a pectoral tendon against Alabama, participated in practice, but offensive tackle Chance Hall did not even though Coach Jones on Monday indicated Hall would be ready to go.
* Justin Martin, Tyler Byrd, Nigel Warrior, Marquill Osborne and Latrell Williams were the players fielding punts during Tuesday's practice. Tennessee's top two punt returners (Alvin Kamara and Cameron Sutton) from last season are gone.
Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com.