True freshman quarterback Harrison Bailey will make his first career start against No. 6 Florida this afternoon, according to a report from Matt Zenitz of AL.com.
Vols redshirt senior quarterback Jarrett Guarantano will be available to play despite being in quarantine the last two weeks due to contact tracing.
The 6-foot-5 quarterback has played in three games for the Vols this season. Bailey is 14-of-23 passing for 175 yards and two interceptions this season. He has not thrown a touchdown in his limited playing time. The Marietta, Georgia native has only entered the game towards the end when the game has been in hand for Tennessee’s opponent.
“I really don’t think the issue is the playbook,” Pruitt said on Monday. “Harrison is a smart guy who has worked really hard. It’s been more about opportunities and getting live opportunities. He’s had a chance to do more and more of that as the season has gone.
“When you just talk about the volume of work, playing a little bit at the end of the Kentucky game, the Arkansas game and a couple of weeks ago against Auburn has been really good for him, just for the speed of the game to prepare him for the future. That’s been really, really good. He works hard every single day. He’s developing more leadership around the rest of his teammates. That’s part of being a quarterback is getting the other 10 guys to be at their best. He continues to do what we ask him to do.”
The Vols and Gators are scheduled to kickoff at 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS.
Here’s a look at how Tennessee true freshman quarterbacks have performed in their first career starts:
Brian Maurer, 2019: vs. No. 3 Georgia (L, 17-13)
- 14-of-28, 2 TD, 259 yards, 2 INT, 50.0%, 7 rushes, -29 rushing yards
- 2019 totals: 35-of-75, 2 TD, 5 INT, 541 yards, 23 rushes, 56 rushing yards, two rushing TDs
Will McBride, 2017: at Missouri (L, 50-17)
- 16-of-32, 139 yards, TD, 2 INT, 14 carries, 63 yards
- 2017 season totals: 17-of-40, 152 yards, TD, 2 INT, 18 carries, 70 yards
Josh Dobbs, 2013 — at No. 10 Missouri (L, 31-3)
- 26-of-42, 240 yards, 2 INT, 7 carries, 45 yards
- 2013 season totals: 72-of-121, 695 yards, 2 TD, 6 INT, 38 carries, 189 yards, TD
Justin Worley, 2011: vs. No. 9 South Carolina (L, 14-3)
- 10-of-26, 105 yards, 2 INT
- 2011 season totals: 48-of-87, 604 yards, TD, 3 INT
Tyler Bray, 2010: at Memphis (W, 50-14)
- 19-of-33, 325 yards, 5 TD
- 2010 season totals: 125-of-224, 1,849 yards, 18 TD, 10 INT
Brent Schaeffer, 2004: vs. UNLV (W, 42-17)
- 7-of-10, 123 yards, TD, 7 carries, 29 yards, TD
- 2004 season totals: 18-of-37, 302 yards, 2 TD, INT, 33 carries, 66 yards, TD
Erik Ainge, 2004: vs. No. 8 Auburn (L, 34-10)
- 17-of-35, 173 yards, TD, 4 INT
- 2004 season totals: 109-of-198, 1,452 yards, 17 TD, 9 INT
James Banks, 2002: at Mississippi State (W, 35-17)
- 3-of-8, 90 yards, TD, 9 carries, 5 yards
- 2002 season totals: 17-of-31, 277 yards, 2 TD, 40 carries, 63 yards
Casey Clausen, 2000 — vs. Alabama (W, 20-10)
- 17-of-24, 213 yards, 2 TD
- 2000 season totals: 121-of-194, 1,473 yards, 15 TD, 6 INT
Peyton Manning, 1994 — vs. Washington State (W, 10-9)
- 7-of-14, 79 yards
- 1994 season totals: 89-of-144, 1,141 yards, 11 TD, 6 INT
Alan Cockrell, 1981 — vs. Colorado State (W, 42-0)
- offense went 13-of-21, 122 yards, 3 INT, Cockrell ran for 2 TDs
- 1981 season totals: 15-of-31, 119 yards, TD, 2 INT, 21 carries, 64 yards, 2 TD
