KNOXVILLE - Perhaps "The SEC on CBS" analyst Gary Danielson summed up Tennessee's quarterback situation best during his broadcast of the Volunteers' 41-0 loss to Georgia on Sept. 30.
"He really hasn't earned the starting job," Danielson said of redshirt freshman Jarrett Guarantano. "But sometimes you just get it."
Tennessee coach Butch Jones likely will be pressed for details during his news conference today, but several media outlets reported Tuesday that Guarantano will be the Vols' starting quarterback when they host South Carolina (4-2, 2-2 SEC) at Neyland Stadium on Saturday.
Jones and his staff are looking for a spark as the Vols (3-2, 0-2) come off a bye week that followed the shutout loss to Georgia.
"You've got to have a guy that can demonstrate a certain level of consistency," offensive coordinator Larry Scott said Monday. "Then it has to be continuous consistency, if that makes sense. It can't be this drive here, that drive there, off here, off there. It starts with everything."
Guarantano has been unimpressive in three relief appearances behind starter Quinten Dormady this season. But the redshirt freshman brings a skill set that appears to be a good match with Tennessee's read-option offense, which offers running opportunities for mobile quarterbacks.
Dormady worked with the quarterbacks during a portion of practice open to media Tuesday while unsubstantiated internet rumors swirled that he may seek to transfer. During an early period in Tuesday's practice, Dormady took snaps from second-team center Coleman Thomas. Guarantano took snaps from starting center Jashon Robertson.
Jones has said repeatedly this season that quarterbacks are byproducts of the players around them, and senior receiver Josh Smith said Tuesday the blame for the team's offensive struggles does not fall on the quarterbacks.
"It takes timing, spacing, our routes," Smith said. "Some of the receivers are not doing their jobs. There's blame in everything. But if one guy doesn't do their job, it just messes up the play. But it shouldn't just be focused on the quarterback like that. It's ridiculous."
Tennessee lost leading returning receiver Jauan Jennings to injury in the season opener, and the passing game has struggled while relying on a group of young receivers in the first two conference games. Running back John Kelly leads the team with 22 receptions, and sophomore Brandon Johnson with 18 is the only wideout with more than eight catches.
Smith said people want to blame Scott or Dormady without knowing "the meaning" of a play.
"Ya'll just see the quarterback: 'Oh, well, he's about to throw it.' They don't see the receiver who has to run a 15-yard dig and he's running a 12-yard dig or vice versa," Smith said. "You've got to put it in that perspective. Our plays don't just revolve around Quinten."
Contact David Cobb at dcobb@timesfreepress.com.