Dormady focusing on consistency, maintaining steady approach in QB battle
The wait is over. Tennessee’s quarterback battle is on.
After patiently biding his time behind Josh Dobbs for two seasons, junior signal caller Quinten Dormady is eager to seize his opportunity and win the Vols' open job. For now, though, Dormady isn't focused on the outcome — but rather the process.
“Going into the spring, it’s just about being consistent and having that attention to details and doing the little things,” Dormady said following the Vols’ first day of spring practice Tuesday.
“That’s what I’m trying to work on. Just making all the throws.”
While redshirt freshman quarterback Jarrett Guarantano is the hotshot energizer bunny in Tennessee’s heavyweight battle, Dormady has gladly accepted the role of stoic vet — despite his relative lack of true experience. The junior has just 39 attempts in two seasons, but Dormady expressed a quiet confidence Tuesday, saying, “I’ve been here. This is my third spring, so I’ve been through the ups and downs. When you do hit a down, it’s just trying to level back off and regroup. Snap and clear.”
The 6-foot-4 Texas native displayed some added muscle as Tennessee opened spring drills, weighing more than 225 pounds after a few months in Rock Gullicksen’s new strength and conditioning program. He said he’s improved “in every aspect” of his game in the last two seasons, including learning the offense and managing protections.
“I can’t even put it into words,” he said. “I’ve gotten stronger and faster since I’ve been here.”
The media saw just a few periods of practice Tuesday, and both Dormady and Guarantano were sharp during early work. The two quarterbacks are big, strong-armed and confident, so the competition should be fierce. Coach Butch Jones has put the kibosh on any sort of timetable, and Dormady said he’s simply focused on “consistency” this spring. He harped on his mindset to just take the battle slowly — and not get caught up in the hoopla or rollercoaster nature of the process.
“I feel like I can make all the throws,” he said, adding that he doesn’t have an idea when he job could be determined. “I’m just trying to be consistent.”
Still, Tennessee’s former backup quarterback understands whats at stake this spring. His eligibility clock is ticking and he must compete against a kid with a tremendous ceiling. He refuses to compromise his steady approach, though, believing his maturity, and competitiveness could prove the difference in the end.
“I’m not going to change,” he said. “I’m not going to change who I am for something. I am who I am, and I’ve been that way for 21 years. … I’m just coming in and competing. Doing what I need to do and seeing what happens.”