There are few (if any) bigger names in Tennessee football than Peyton Manning. And one of the Vols’ current quarterbacks is set to go learn from the Vol legend at his annual passing academy.
Per a confirmed report from 247Sports, rising sophomore quarterback Jarrett Guarantano is expected to be Tennessee’s representative at the Manning Passing Academy in Louisiana later this month. This year marks the 23rd edition of the camp, and it will take place at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana from June 21-24.
Though Guarantano is in the middle of a quarterback battle for the Vols heading into his third year in the program, he’ll represent Tennessee at the camp. And he’ll be just one of a handful of big-time Power Five quarterbacks at the academy.
Washington quarterback Jake Browning and Arizona’s Khalil Tate are two of the headliners at the camp, and several quarterbacks the Vols are expected to face this season will also be in attendance along with Guarantano. West Virginia’s Will Grier, Auburn’s Jarrett Stidham, South Carolina’s Jake Bentley, Missouri’s Drew Lock, Alabama’s Jalen Hurts, and Georgia’s Jake Fromm are all expected to attend as well.
All the quarterbacks in attendance will be working alongside both Peyton and Eli Manning at the camp. Over 1,200 campers are expected to attend.
As a redshirt freshman, Guarantano began the season on the bench for Tennessee while junior Quinten Dormady led Tennessee’s offense. But Guarantano earned his first start of the season against South Carolina and only missed one game after that, and that was due to injury.
In nine overall appearances and six starts last year, Guarantano completed 61.9 percent of his 139 passes for 997 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions. He also ran for a touchdown.
With Tennessee’s coaching change in December, Guarantano, much like the rest of the Vols’ roster, is in a competition for his respective starting job. In the spring, Guarantano’s only competition was rising sophomore Will McBride. But this summer and fall will see the competition ramp up.
Stanford grad transfer Keller Chryst is now on campus, and he’ll be on the field for the start of fall camp in August. He’s joined by true freshman J.T. Shrout from the 2018 signing class as the two newcomers to the quarterback battle.
Guarantano will have his work cut out for him with Chryst joining the fray this fall, and he’s far from guaranteed to keep his starting job even after a strong spring that saw him earn MVP honors for his performance in the Orange & White Game. But he will be Tennessee’s representative at the Manning Passing Academy, that much is sure.
