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7. QB Jarrett Guarantano
Quarterback – 2016 Class
6’4, 200 pounds
Oradell, NJ. (Bergen Catholic)
Other top offers
Ohio State, Penn State, Alabama, Clemson
Status
Guarantano may have been somewhat of an afterthought to Tennessee fans a few months ago in a class that had its quarterback (Austin Kendall) and probably didn’t have room for any more. But a lot has changed in the past couple weeks. Kendall has decommitted and Guarantano is right near – if not at – the very top of Tennessee’s list of signal callers in the class of 2016. He came in for a two-day visit to Knoxville over the weekend of March 22. He’s mentioned Tennessee among his top three with Rutgers and Ohio State also near the top and he’s scheduled to make his decision on April 15. The Vols are certainly in it, but will have to hold off his home-state school and perhaps the hottest school in the nation in terms of recruiting dual-threat QBs.
Ratings
247Sports: ★★★★
ESPN.com: ★★★★
Rivals.com: ★★★★
Scout.com: ★★★★
RTI average: 4-stars
How He Fits
The Vols will likely only take one quarterback this class after taking three in 2015 (Quinten Dormady, Jauan Jennings and Sheriron Jones) to go along with rising junior Joshua Dobbs, who most likely will still be on the roster in 2016, though there are no guarantees on that front.
It’s fair to say that UT would be glad to take Guarantano and call it a day at that position. And while it’s not a pressing need because there could be as many as four quarterbacks on the roster in 2016, Dobbs would be a rising senior at that point and odds, and history, point to at least one of the quarterbacks in the 2015 class seeking other options within a year or two. So landing one really good QB prospect in the 2016 class is important to keep depth and competition healthy at the most important position on the roster.
Guarantano has fantastic size, a cannon arm and great athleticism for the position as well. There’s a reason he’s one of the top overall QBs in this class and a reason the Vols will go after him hard, but he’ll be a tough pull.
Video
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