Five Tennessee players given Heisman Trophy odds

Five Tennessee football players have opened with Heisman Trophy odds, per Circa Sports. The Sportsbook released odds for 367 players ahead of the 2020 season, which included four Volunteer quarterbacks.

Jarrett Guarantano and Harrison Bailey led the way with +30000 odds. The senior and freshman were set to battle it out for the starting job in camp, though Guarantano remains the presumed starter ahead of the season. But the five-star freshman quarterback was set to at least get his feet wet in Jim Chaney’s offense, perhaps giving him a chance to make a run at the job in the fall.

Two other quarterbacks, Brian Maurer and Kasim Hill, were given longer odds at +100000. Maurer started a couple of games for Tennessee last year before two concussions derailed his progress. Hill transferred to Tennessee as a walk-on after leaving the Maryland program. This will be his first year of eligibility in Knoxville, giving Chaney a true wildcard in that room.

Eric Gray was the only non quarterback to make the list, checking in with +30000 odds. The rising sophomore tailback took control of the backfield in the final two games, torching Vanderbilt and helping bring the Vols back to life in the Gator Bowl against Indiana. The former four-star running back should get the bulk of the work next season, running behind a loaded offensive line.

Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields and Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence lead most of the early Heisman odds. Incoming transfer Jamie Newman at Georgia is also near the top, along with new Oklahoma starter Spencer Rattler.