Jarrett

Guarantano

With starter Jayden de Laura sidelined last week due to a knee injury, Guarantano (6'4/220) started but struggled in the Cougars’ loss at Utah. de Laura is warming up ahead of Saturday’s game and will start, but according to reports, Guarantano is nowhere to be found. If he isn’t available, that would lock Cammon Cooper into the backup quarterback role.

With Jayden de Laura ruled out due to a knee injury, who would start at quarterback for the Cougars was said to be a game-time decision. But this wasn’t much more than a smoke screen, as it was Jarrett Guarantano and not Cooper (6'4/208) who started Saturday afternoon. Cooper took some snaps during last weekend’s loss to USC, completing 4-of-5 passes for 44 yards and an interception.

Different team, same old Guarantano (6'4/220). The Tennessee transfer was predictably awful once again, throwing three interceptions and torpedoing Washington State’s attempts to win the game by throwing an egregious interception late in the fourth quarter that was returned for a touchdown to put the contest out of reach. With starting QB Jayden de Laura mending a knee injury, Guarantano got the call over Cammon Cooper, who entered the game on the last drive after HC Nick Rolovich simply couldn’t stomach any more of the beleaguered signal caller. de Laura’s knee cannot mend soon enough.

de Laura (6'0/190) injured his knee during the Cougars’ home loss to USC last weekend. While the freshman was able to return to that game, he looked nothing like himself physically. With de Laura sidelined either Cammon Cooper or Jarrett Guarantano, who sat out last weekend due to injury, will start for Washington State. Cooper replaced de Laura during last weekend’s loss, attempting five passes before being pulled in favor of walk-on Vince Gabalis.

Guarantano (6'4/220) was injured on a sack during last weekend’s 26-23 loss to Utah State. The fact that the redshirt senior, who started the opener, is back in uniform is good news for the Cougars. That being said, freshman Jayden de Laura will be making the start for Washington State.

Rolovich went with grad transfer Jarrett Guarantano in Saturday’s season-opening loss to Utah State, but the former Tennessee quarterback suffered an injury during the second quarter and did not return. That was de Laura’s chance to show what he could do, and the freshman threw for 133 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for another 42 yards. Rolovich said on Monday that he’s leaning towards starting de Laura (6'0/190) against Portland State. But with Guarantano considered to be questionable, Rolovich may not have a decision to make come Saturday.

Guarantano (6'4/220) was apparently injured early in the second quarter when he was sacked by Patrick Joyner Jr. in the end zone for a safety. QB Jayden de Laura entered the game and finished up, and he did some good things, giving the team a chance to win. Guarantano completed 8-of-13 for 56 yards while running for 19 yards, while de Laura completed 11-of-21 for 133 yards and a touchdown, while running for 42 yards. The Cougs get a visit from Portland State of the FCS next week to work out the kinks.

Guarantano (6'4/220), a grad transfer who began his college career at Tennessee, is Nick Rolovich’s choice to lead the Washington State offense. The redshirt senior beat out freshman Jayden de Laura, who made a run at retaining the starting job after being suspended for all of spring practice. According to 247Sports’ Jamey Vinnick, the fact that Washington State is an experienced team that boasts experienced playmakers at the skill positions may have factored into the decision. Had the Cougars not been blessed with that kind of depth, Rolovich may have called on a more creative player (de Laura) to run the offense.

de Laura (6'0/190) and Guarantano (6'4/220) were able to separate themselves from Cammon Cooper, but not each other, in the competition to be Washington State’s starting quarterback. de Laura is the incumbent, as he served as the Cougars’ starter in 2020, but he missed all of spring practice after being charged with driving under the influence (the charges were ultimately dismissed). That opened the door for Guarantano to work his way into the mix after transferring in from Tennessee, and he’s done enough to remain in contention for the starting job. It would not come as a surprise if we saw both quarterbacks Saturday night.

Guarantano (6'4/230) hit his hand on the back of an offensive lineman’s helmet after releasing a pass during Saturday’s spring game. Given what can occur when a bare hand hits a helmet, is a good sign that the redshirt senior was able to return to practice this quickly. Guarantano is part of a rather crowded competition for the starting job in Pullman, with returning starter Jayden de Laura and Cammon Cooper the other options for HC Nick Rolovich.