Coming off a 1-3 start this season, Tennessee is changing its approach at the quarterback position — at least on the practice field — leading up to this week’s open date.

After the Vols benched starting quarterback Jarrett Guarantano to start the second half during their 34-3 loss Saturday at ninth-ranked Florida, coach Jeremy Pruitt said Wednesday that Tennessee now plans to divide its practice repetitions equally among its three scholarship quarterbacks.

Pruitt wasn’t ready to suggest that the Vols (1-3, 0-1 SEC) are switching to a new starter. But he acknowledged that they have “to get better production out of that position” going into their home game Oct. 5 against third-ranked Georgia.

“I think we have to change the reps. We have to do that,” Pruitt said Wednesday.

“And it’s no secret. There’s no secrets anymore. We’ve got to get better production out of that position, just like we do all of them. And so we’ve got to give these guys an opportunity, and this is a good chance to do that this week.”

Asked to elaborate on how Tennessee now is handling its quarterbacks in practice, Pruitt said, “Everybody gets the same amount of reps.”

Freshman Brian Maurer replaced Guarantano to start the second half of Saturday’s game after making his collegiate debut a week earlier during Tennessee’s 45-0 shutout of Chattanooga. Maurer played a large portion of the second half, although Guarantano later returned to the game before Maurer again came in for the Vols’ final position.

Redshirt freshman J.T. Shrout also came off the bench to play in the Vols’ win over Chattanooga but didn’t appear in Saturday’s game at Florida.

Guarantano threw just three interceptions last year while serving as Tennessee’s starter for the entire season. He already has been intercepted four times through the Vols’ first four games this season, including the two picks he threw in Saturday’s game.

Against the Gators, Guarantano completed 10 of 17 passes for a season-low 107 yards and two interceptions as Tennessee failed to reach the end zone.

Maurer led the Vols on their only scoring drive to start the second half, setting up a 40-yard field goal by Brent Cimaglia.

Pruitt said Wednesday that Tennessee needs “to be more consistent” at the quarterback position but said Guarantano also has “made some really good throws and made some really good decisions” at times.

“Well, I think it’s just like every position,” Pruitt said. “Every position on our team, there’s been times this year that we’ve played really good football. But we’re looking for consistency. And that’s with every position, so every week we play the guys that give us the best opportunity to have success. And we’ll continue to do that.

“Hey, Jarrett has not been probably as good as he would like to be on certain times. But he’s also made some really good throws and made some really good decisions. No different than maybe the defensive line, the linebackers, secondary — whatever.

“Everybody in our program’s got to raise their level. We’ve got to be more consistent, and we’ve got to create the right habits so it shows up on game day.”