4-Star Jarrett Guarantano Breaks Down Finalists Ohio State, Tennessee & Rutgers

Coveted quarterback Jarrett Guarantano is closing in on a collegiate decision with three programs in contention for his commitment. The 4-star passer will pick either Ohio State, Rutgers or Tennessee on Wednesday, April 15 during an announcement ceremony.

Guarantano, a junior at Bergen Catholic High School, received his first scholarship offer before high school. That list expanded to include more than 30 universities during the past three years.

"It will be kind of strange to put the recruiting process behind me after all this time, but it will also be a relief," Guarantano told Bleacher Report. "I can focus on football and becoming a better quarterback without some of the stress recruiting can create. It's going to be fun to just go out and play without thinking about all the other stuff."

There are unique reasons why each of his three finalists remain in the equation. Guarantano admits it's a difficult decision.

"All three schools really did a great job showing me love and made me feel like they want me to be a part of their program," he said. "It's a tough choice because they've each made me feel like family and I have a lot of respect for those coaches."

Guarantano spent time on all three campuses this year, developing and enhancing longstanding rapports with each program. 

"I have a strong relationship with these head coaches so it's going to be tough to tell two of them I'm not coming," he said. "Butch Jones coached my dad in college and has always made me feel welcome at Tennessee; Urban Meyer and I have become extremely close; Rutgers has always felt like home and Kyle Flood has made it seem even more like that during the past few months. Regardless of which school I pick, those two phone calls are going to be hard."

Guarantano, who also holds offers from Alabama, Auburn, Oklahoma, LSU and Notre Dame, is rated sixth nationally among pro-style passers in 247Sports' composite rankings. He is second on that list when it comes to uncommitted prospects.

While some players leave things open-ended after commitment announcements, Guarantano aims to stick with his decision during the next nine months before arriving on campus next January.

"When I decide Wednesday, I think I'm just going to shut it down for a while," he said. "I don't think I'll take any unofficial visits this summer or even when the opportunity to take official visits comes around. I plan to enroll early, so my goal is to have everything pretty set when next season starts."

The 6'4", 200-pound playmaker, who tallied 1,227 total yards and 12 touchdowns in seven games last season, broke down each of his options during a recent conversation with Bleacher Report. 

Ohio State

Guarantano spent the early stages of spring break at Ohio State. His final assessment of the school took place last week, when the campus still seemed to be celebrating a title-game victory that occurred three months ago.

"It's still rocking in Columbus," he said. "I was hanging out with Cardale (Jones) and there were people jumping all over him, asking for autographs and taking pictures. The atmosphere is one-of-a-kind there, especially after winning a national championship. Being there in person just showed me how much a title can change the culture of a university."

Jones is one of three high-profile passers competing for first-string snaps at Ohio State, along with Braxton Miller and J.T. Barrett. The trio follows in line with other quarterbacks who've flourished in Meyer's offensive attack, including first-rounds NFL draft picks Alex Smith and Tim Tebow.

At least two of the Buckeyes quarterbacks are likely to make a leap to the NFL in 2016, but the depth chart is star-studded throughout. Ohio State welcomes freshmen Torrance Gibson and Joe Burrow to campus this year.

Guarantano won't shy away from a crowded competition.

"The success of quarterbacks under Urban Meyer is incredible, so I'm not surprised about the amount of talent at the position there," he said. "If I went to Ohio State, there would be about three or four other very good quarterbacks on the team. You have to compete in college no matter where you go, and it's just a matter of finding out where you want to have that competition."

He credits Meyer for spearheading a championship run that ended with his third-string quarterback playing the starring role. Guarantano referred to him as "one of the all-time greats" among coaches at any level.

"The amount knowledge he has is ridiculous," he said. "You can tell he's learned so much about football and life from his time at Bowling Green, Utah and Florida. It was a great pickup for Ohio State when they hired him and I knew he would be successful there because of his background of leading teams and training big-time quarterbacks."

Now Guarantano could be next in line to join that esteemed list.

"They've been telling me that 'the best go to the best', so if I'm confident in my abilities there's a chance for me to play early at the highest level of college football," Guarantano said.

Rutgers

Rutgers has always had an edge in proximity, located within a short car ride from his home and high school. The Scarlet Knights extended an offer to Guarantano during the summer after his eighth-grade year, becoming the first program to formally join an eventual nationwide pursuit.

His father, James Guarantano, is a member of the Rutgers Hall of Fame and finished his college career as the program's all-time receptions leader. Despite that strong connection to the school and countless campus visits, head coach Kyle Flood found his team on the outside looking in last season when it came to this recruitment.

"I'm going to be honest, looking back at September and October they weren't even a thought because they had kind of backed off a little bit since they knew how close I already was to the program," Guarantano said. "They gave me some space then, but ever since it's been totally different. I've had a chance to really learn how great the program is and all about its history. That put them back in my mind as a contender."

Gary Nova, a four-year starter who wrapped up his career at Rutgers in 2014, is the team's all-time leader in touchdown passes. He and Mike Teel (2005-2008) are the most successful passers since the program's stature elevated under former head coach Greg Schiano, though both players went through their ups and downs without claiming an outright conference championship.

Consistency at quarterback is an essential part of Rutgers' aim to climb the ranks as a Big Ten newcomer. Guarantano feels he would fit the bill and could earn an opportunity to lead the program past new challenges toward new heights.

"The chance to be one of the first to do something always gets you excited," he said. "We're talking about the chance to bring back the first Big Ten championship to Jersey or even chase after the first national championship. That's something I've always thought about with Rutgers. It isn't just the opportunity to follow my dad's path and become another Guarantano who played there; it's the chance to become a legend forever. That would be something special."

You get the sense that Rutgers is tugging at Guarantano's heartstrings more than Tennessee and Ohio State. It remains to be seen whether that's enough to land the top in-state target.

"Rutgers is a place I've always loved and it's been a big part of my life," Guarantano said. "That coaching staff has made me feel like family more than anyone else in the country. Rutgers will forever be a great place in my heart."

Tennessee

 The Volunteers hosted Guarantano on campus in late March. He left with an extremely positive impression of the program and those who support it.

"I had a chance to become more familiar with the campus and Knoxville. What really stood out was the atmosphere," he said. "I don't think there's a fanbase that cares more about their football team than at the University of Tennessee. I've never seen anything like it."

Despite a longstanding commitment from 4-star North Carolina quarterback Austin Kendall, the team remained in hot pursuit of Guarantano throughout his junior year. Kendall decommitted last month and has since pledged to Oklahoma, leaving things wide open at the position in Tennessee's 2016 class

Head coach Butch Jones was a Rutgers graduate assistant when Guarantano's father played for the Scarlet Knights. The Volunteers leader has used impressive recruiting hauls and improved play on the field to help get things back on track in Knoxville.

Many view the program as a candidate to make significant strides in the SEC East this season. Guarantano could see himself being part of a potential program rebound.

"It's kind of crazy how Coach Jones came in there and really changed the game with these recruiting classes," he said. "'Brick-by-brick' is a great philosophy because they are building something special there with talented players and I think that will continue. Coach Jones does a great job selling that vision to recruits like me and makes it feel like he'll be a second dad for the next four years, taking care of you on and off the field."

Quotes obtained firsthand by Bleacher Report National Recruiting Analyst Tyler Donohue.

Recruit ratings courtesy of 247Sports.