Tennessee Football: Where does Guarantano rank after Week 1?

Jarrett Guarantano had a rough game against South Carolina, so where does Tennessee Football’s quarterback rank after Week 1?

Tennessee football escaped Columbia on Saturday night with a win over South Carolina. The Vols’ quarterback, Jarrett Guarantano, struggled throughout the night, and as a fifth-year senior, he missed throws that a starting quarterback with his experience should never miss.

After an offseason of quarterback controversy, Jeremy Pruitt and Tennessee’s offensive coaching staff gave JG the starting job, but if he continues to miss those key and easy throws, then people are going to want a quarterback change, especially if it costs the Vols’ a game.

247Sports analyst Barton Simmons ranked all 14 SEC quarterbacks after the SEC’s first week of the season, and unsurprisingly, JG fell in the middle of the pack.

"“The Guarantano experience was as maddening as ever on Saturday,” Simmons wrote. “He misses throws that he should make, forcing you to question his accuracy, and then he’ll scamper for a first down or drop a dime for a touchdown — like he did on what proved to be the game-winning touchdown to Josh Palmer in the fourth quarter. The inconsistencies are still there. But so is the ability and the toughness.”"

Guarantano was 19-of-31 for 231 yards and a touchdown in the Vols’ win. He also had a rushing touchdown to help pad his stats.

Guarantano was ranked the No. 7 quarterback in the SEC after week 1, according to Simmons. If the Vols would’ve lost, then I’m sure he would’ve dropped even lower, but he survived, and as long as he can make half of the throws he missed, then the Vols should beat Missouri, too.

The positive coming out of the game is the Vols’ offense didn’t have any turnovers in its opening game.

Tennessee will be looking to continue its win streak dating back to last season against Missouri this Saturday as the Vols open Neyland Stadium for the first time in 2020.