Redshirt junior Tennessee quarterback Jarrett Guarantano has been benched in favor of true freshman Brian Maurer, according to ESPN’s Chris Low.
In a surprising and seemingly desperate gamble comparable to Georgia’s 2015 decision to give Faton Bauta his first ever start against rival Florida, Tennessee hopes to reveal a wild card against Georgia’s defense, which is pretty good at playing defense.
Guarantano has performed as a serviceable quarterback behind a mediocre-at-best offensive line and the change likely doesn’t make much sense to anyone outside Tennessee’s athletic headquarters (in the off-chance that it even makes sense to those within the building). After 22 starts, he has officially been replaced even if only temporarily.
Against a Georgia defense which has allowed just three passing touchdowns through four games, Maurer will have to play the role of the unlikely hero to earn a victory a team with only one win. Tennessee hopes to cash in on the fact that Georgia has limited footage on a young quarterback whose college career has so far included just thirteen pass attempts.
Of those pass attempts, Maurer has only completed four.
If Tennessee’s endgame is briefly confusing Georgia before Guarantano returns, they will accomplish their goal. The desperation, however, is painfully obvious.
