SEC Football: Biggest offseason question for every team

Tennessee Vols, 9-4 (4-4)

Who wins the quarterback competition?

Though he never developed into a Heisman Trophy candidate, and never led the Vols to the SEC Championship Game as many hoped he would, Joshua Dobbs was a steady presence behind center for Tennessee over the last two and a half seasons. The athletic signal caller was one of the best dual threats in the league, and last season accounted for 2,946 passing yards, 27 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while completing 63 percent of his passes. Dobbs also led the team with 831 rushing yards and 12 rushing TDs.

Quinten Dormady saw the most action as Dobbs’ backup last season. Dormady was 11-for-17 passing for 148 yards and has appeared in 10 games over the last two seasons. Dormady entered spring practice with the inside track to begin the season atop the depth chart because of that experience, and his play in the Orange and White Game gave many the impression he is still the man to beat heading into the fall. The junior completed all 10 passes he attempted in the spring game and tossed two touchdowns — one to receiver Jauan Jennings and the other to tight end Eli Wolf – in his only two drives.

Dormady’s top competition is Jarrett Guarantano, a redshirt freshman that completed four of five passes in the spring game with the one miss coming on a ball that could have been intercepted. Like Dormady, Guarantano led the first-team offense for two drives before the game was called due to inclement weather. Sheriron Jones and Will McBride are also in the mix, but there appears to be a clear divide in the competition between the top two and bottom two challengers.

Don’t expect head coach Butch Jones to name a starter anytime soon, but the smart money is on Dormady to take the first snap of the season against Georgia Tech September 4.