Quarterback
Nathanael: B+
Though his first pass was nearly intercepted, Jarrett Guarantano settled in after that and looked much better. Granted, his performance came against an FCS opponent (and not a great one, at that), but it was much needed after the way he started the season. Guarantano still wasn’t exactly crisp on most of his throws, but he more than got the job done with his 7-of-8 performance for a career-high three touchdowns.
As for the two young backups, I wasn’t particularly impressed with JT Shrout. He has a great arm, but he made the wrong read multiple times and should’ve had an interception if not for a roughing the passer penalty calling it back. Brian Maurer didn’t get asked to throw much, but I liked his moxy and pocket awareness. His legs add a different dimension, and he used them effectively, running for a touchdown in the second half.
Ben: B
Jarrett Guarantano receives an “A” for his career-high three touchdown passes and going 7-of-8. Guarantano showed signs of improvement, particularly with getting the ball out quicker. Saturday proved to be a confidence booster for Guarantano, which is key heading into Florida week.
As for the other quarterbacks, they didn’t look so hot through the air. Brian Maurer rushed for his first career touchdown and showed toughness, but the true freshman was 0-for-2 through the air. JT Shrout also struggled through the air, completing just three of his nine passes. He missed quite a bit on a couple of throws and was bailed out on a bad interception thanks to a roughing the passer penalty on UTC.
