After years away, former Tennessee QB Jarrett Guarantano ‘thankful’ for reunion with Vols

Former Tennessee quarterback Jarrett Guarantano made an appearance on Rocky Top earlier this fall for the first time since transferring away as a graduate following the 2020 season. The journey back to Knoxville and the University of Tennessee was highly anticipated, but one of great emotion for the former signal-caller.   

“I needed some time away. I needed some time to cope with my thoughts and to cope with some things that happened at Tennessee,” the lettermen said on the Locked on Vols Podcast this week. “I knew it was always going to be in my heart to come back. I just felt it was the perfect time this season. I just felt I was good to go mentally, physically and everything – I was all there.”   

The Lodi, N.J. native spent five total seasons with the program, redshirting in 2016 before being the primary quarterback for the Vols over the next four seasons through 2020. Following the COVID-shortened campaign, Guarantano transferred to Washington State to play his final year of eligibility in 2021.  

“I was grateful I was able to get the acceptance that I did when I wanted to come back, obviously. It’s been a whirlwind. I’m absolutely blessed for Tennessee, Vol Nation and absolutely the staff too.”

Guarantano had several ups and downs throughout his rollercoaster Tennessee career. He threw for 6,174 yards with 38 touchdowns and 17 interceptions as a Vol, entering the collegiate arena as a highly-touted four-star recruit. He was in and out of the lineup at times. He quarterbacked a lot of down teams while he was here. Like any player, Guarantano made some mistakes on the field that caused fan backlash. But only one player is the quarterback at the University of Tennessee.

Even after transferring away, Guarantano needed some time to process his Tennessee experience – the good and the bad. Knowing this is where his heart is, the former quarterback wanted to come back and be reunited with the program. It needed to be on his terms, though.

“Just walking around. I really didn’t want to tell anyone that I was there,” the Vol said of coming back for the Alabama game in October. “I didn’t want to make a big thing of it. I just wanted to be one of the fans and one of the boys again. It was a blessing I was able to walk around the Vol Walk and walk around the stadium. There were a lot of emotions when I first got there.

“It was absolutely amazing. I couldn’t ask for a better trip. I was able to go on the field and meet with coach [Josh] Heupel and some of the staff. All and all, it was awesome. It was so good that I got out of there after the first quarter. I was so full with love, energy and excitement with everything. I was just like, ‘I’m good. I don’t have to stay and watch the game, I’m absolutely good.’”    

Guarantano said later in the interview that he will definitely be back for more in the future and looks forward to seeing and speaking with many more Tennessee fans. Since his collegiate days have wrapped, Guarantano has spent time on several NFL rosters and played last spring in the Houston Roughnecks of the XFL.

The future is unclear for Guarantano on the field. There’s still options for him to continue playing the game that he loves, but he knows that journey won’t last forever. He’s beginning to think about life after football and what that can look like.

Last week, Guarantano stepped back into the spotlight and began taking a few interviews and discussing Tennessee’s matchup with Ohio State in the College Football Playoffs. The football media space in an avenue he could explore in the future, but more than anything, he wanted to ‘come back home’ and be reunited with Tennessee fans.

“It felt like I was gone just yesterday but it’s been five years now,” Guarantano said. “I’m smiling ear to ear because it was just such a great trip and I was so grateful, so thankful to be able to see those faces again. There was a point in time where I didn’t know if I was eve going to be back or ever wanted again. So, I got everything out of that trip that I could possibly imagine.”

See the full interview with Jarrett Guarantano via Locked on Vols below.