‘He’s going to go into spring practice as the guy who makes the most sense’ – Vols’ QB situation trending in specific direction
The Tennessee Vols’ quarterback situation is still unsettled as the transfer portal is set to close.
The current feeling on Rocky Top is that the Tennessee Vols are going to go into the offseason with rising redshirt freshman George MacIntyre and incoming true freshman Faizon Brandon as the team’s top two quarterback options.
It’s considered likely that Tennessee will still add a transfer quarterback, but it will probably be a depth option who can compete with MacIntyre and Brandon for the starting job (unless the Vols pull off a surprise and somehow swipe Darian Mensah from Duke).
MacIntyre, given his year of experience at Tennessee, would be the favorite to win the starting job in that scenario.
Vols insider discusses Tennessee’s quarterback situation
VolQuest’s Brent Hubbs joined 104.5 The Zone’s Ramon and Will on Friday and he discussed Tennessee’s quarterback situation at length.
Hubbs suggested that MacIntyre, at this point, is the quarterback that makes the most sense for the Vols as the program enters the offseason.
“If you’re George MacIntyre or if you’re Faizon Brandon, man, there’s never been a greater time to go [compete],” said Hubbs. “You’ve got to go right now. And we’ve seen George MacIntyre — he was in Florida over this past week with a bunch of Tennessee guys throwing ball down there and working out with some guys. He has got to go. And this is his — I won’t say it’s his one shot or his only shot — but he will never have a better shot than he’s got right now.
“And you know Faizon is coming in as a young guy, but he’s going to have a shot right out of the gate here because of where Tennessee’s at…[Tennessee’s coaching staff] is going to pour into those guys. Because [they’re] probably thinking, right now, that [their] starting quarterback is one of those two guys — unless something crazy happens here the next three or four days.”
This offseason could be MacIntyre’s best shot to win the job. Because if he doesn’t win it this offseason, it probably means that it’s going to to be the Faizon Brandon show on Rocky Top in 2027.
“He’s (MacIntyre) getting ready to get his opportunity, and he’s got to go run with it,” said Hubbs of MacIntyre. “Again, unless something crazy happens in the portal, he’s going to go into spring practice and go into the offseason here as the guy who makes the most sense — because he knows the offense. He’s been in it for a year. And then he’s getting ready to take on a challenger in Faizon Brandon, who’s got to be sitting there saying, ‘Look, I can go win this job…you know, George MacIntyre played in a couple of games last year, he’s been here, but I can catch up. I can go win it.’ Those two guys, the gauntlet is thrown down, and somebody’s got to go win it. That’s what it feels like right now.”
Again, maybe the Vols uncover a hidden gem in the transfer portal, or maybe a big-time name surprisingly enters the portal before the shot clock expires. Transfer developments can happen suddenly and unexpectedly. But unless one of those things happens, MacIntyre might get a chance to live out his dream as an SEC starting quarterback next fall.
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