It's been a whirlwind past month for Jeremy Pruitt, who was named Tennessee's coach on Dec. 7. He juggled that job and his role as Alabama's defensive coordinator until the Crimson Tide won the national championship. UT Sports
A quarterback who holds an 11-2 record as a starter has emerged as a graduate transfer possibility for Tennessee.
Stanford quarterback Keller Chryst announced Sunday that he will transfer for his final season after graduating from Stanford in June.
Earl Hansen, Chryst’s former coach at Palo Alto High School, confirmed that Tennessee is “on the list” of schools Chryst is considering.
More: If Tennessee Vols want to add a graduate transfer QB, there are plenty to consider
“Thank you to Stanford University, the Stanford Football program, and especially my teammates for the experiences here,” Chryst wrote on Twitter on Sunday. “Looking forward to what the future holds!”
Chryst tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in Stanford’s bowl game to conclude the 2016 season, but he recovered in time to start the 2017 season opener.
Chryst started 13 games in his final two seasons at Stanford, but K.J. Costello, a rising sophomore, replaced Chryst as Stanford’s starter in November.
More: If Tennessee Vols want to add a graduate transfer QB, there are plenty to consider
Chryst completed 54.2 percent of his passes last season for 962 yards. During his Stanford career, he completed 55.4 percent of his passes for 1,926 yards with 19 touchdowns and six interceptions.
Hansen said Chryst would be a good fit for a team in need of a pro-style quarterback. Stanford uses a pro-style system, and Chryst also ran a pro-style offense at Palo Alto.
“He’s not a sports car. He’s a truck,” Hansen said of Chryst, who is listed at 6-foot-5, 234 pounds.
More: Tennessee Vols: With Quinten Dormady transferring, QB job is Jarrett Guarantano's to lose
In high school, Chryst emerged as a four-star prospect. He threw 84 touchdowns in three seasons as Palo Alto’s starter.
“He’s big, he’s smart, and his work ethic is beyond anybody that you can think of,” Hansen said. “He’s prototype. If you look at him, he definitely passes the eyeball test.”
Southern California coach Clay Helton recruited Chryst while Chryst was at Palo Alto. Helton was then USC’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
Helton’s brother, Tyson Helton, became Tennessee’s offensive coordinator after two seasons working as Clay's quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator.
More: Tennessee football coach Jeremy Pruitt details staff hires, including Tyson Helton, Kevin Sherrer
Tyson Helton is expected to install a pro-style system under Vols coach Jeremy Pruitt.
The Vols are believed to be in the market for a graduate transfer QB. They have three scholarship QBs on their 2018 roster – rising sophomores Jarrett Guarantano and Will McBride, plus JT Shrout, a three-star prospect who signed in December and will enroll this summer. Guarantano started six games in 2017.
Yahoo! Sports reported last week that UT has interest in Alex Thomson, a graduate transfer from Wagner, an FCS school.
Tennessee is losing Quinten Dormady, who started five games last season, to a graduate transfer.
Chryst comes from a football pedigree. His father, Geep Chryst, is the Denver Broncos’ tight ends coach. His uncle, Paul Chryst, is the coach at Wisconsin. Another uncle, Rick Chryst, is the former commissioner of the Mid-American Conference.
Blake Toppmeyer, John Adams and Mike Wilson on Pruitt's press conference on Wednesday, January 10, 2018.
Alabama defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt, hired as Tennessee’s coach in December, discusses the challenge of juggling two jobs. Blake Toppmeyer/News Sentinel
Tennessee reporters Blake Toppmeyer and Mike Wilson discuss the Vols' recruiting class heading into the early signing period Blake Toppmeyer and Mike Wilson/News Sentinel
Coffee County senior Alontae Taylor signed with Tennessee on the last day of the early signing period. Tom Kreager
Gibbs' Ollie Lane signed with the Vols on Early Signing Day Dec. 20, 2017 Diana Nearhos/News Sentinel
Ensworth's Tanner Antonutti talks about why he signed with Tennessee. Tom Kreager / USA Today Network - Tennessee
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Jerome Carvin to Tennessee By John Varlas/The Commercial Appeal
Keaton Jones, whose bullying video has gone viral, visited with UT Athletics Director Phil Fulmer and members of the Vols football team on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2017. Submitted/ University of Tennessee.
Tennessee football coach Jeremy Pruitt was introduced during a timeout at the Vols basketball game on Saturday Mike Wilson/News Sentinel
Watch a time lapse of University of Tennessee sophomore Kate Luffman painting The Rock to welcome UT Vols new coach Jeremy Pruitt. Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel
University of Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt speaks about who he sees as the Vols' opponents during his introduction ceremony in the Neyland Stadium Peyton Manning Locker Room Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017.
The Tennessee coaching search has gone through a tumultuous week. Angela Gosnell/News Sentinel
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