When Jim Chaney first arrived back in Knoxville, neither Jarrett Guarantano nor Marquez Callaway knew exactly what to expect.

His up-tempo style produced 38 points per game a season ago at Georgia, but Chaney’s formula was unknown to all on the west side of the Tennessee-Georgia state line. 

That all changed when UT kicked off preseason practice on Aug. 2. 

One of the slowest-paced offensive units in college football a season ago, the Vols are now looking to score with a sense of urgency and tenacity. For Marquez Callaway and the receivers, that means additional repetition, something Chaney enforces. 

“Up tempo, a lot of speed. He wants execution and he wants us to do it right,” Callaway said. “So if we’re not doing it right we start it all over until we get it right.” 

Tennessee’s primary threat on the outside last season, Callaway logged 592 yards but found the end zone just twice, down from his total of five touchdowns in 2017.

Heading into his senior season, the Warner Robins, Georgia native said he feels that taking the next leap in his development as a leader is the next step, an aspect he has been working on in his everyday life as well. It also hasn’t hurt that his teammates are on him about it as well.

“On the field and off the field is my leadership. I know I said it a couple weeks ago, but I still think that’s one I need to improve on,” Callaway said. “Nigel (Warrior) tells me a lot that I need to step up and that’s what I’ve been trying to do and focus on.”

Developing as a leader in both areas is no easy task, however. 

Luckily for Callaway, Guarantano is in a similar situation in terms of adjusting to life under a new scheme. Last year, the then-redshirt sophomore quarterback crossed the 300-yard passing mark just once and had nine outings with less than 200 yards.

His best performance came on the road against Auburn, where he completed 21 of 32 passes for 328 yards and two touchdowns as the Vols took down the Tigers 30-24 at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Both he and his coaches will be looking for more of the same this year.  

With Chaney now at the helm of the offense, Guarantano’s practice reps have always been easy, but he’s thankful for the experience of game-esque intensity prior to the start of the season.

“I think they try to put me in tough situations, which is only going to make me better,” Guarantano said. “I enjoy being in those tough situations and those are game-like situations. When the game comes around, it makes things easier for me.”

While his reps in practice have proven beneficial, Tennessee’s offense is still far from where it needs to be in two weeks when Georgia State comes to town. For Guarantano, that means taking advantage of the time the Vols have left and that starts with correcting repeated mistakes. 

It’s the final two weeks of practices that will put those lessons to the test. 

“There are some things that we can learn from and get better from,” Guarantano said. “But all around I think this camp has been really good for the offense and these next two weeks are going to be big for our development.”