There’s one obvious reason why Faizon Brandon shouldn’t begin the 2026 season as the Tennessee Vols’ starting quarterback
The Tennessee Vols will feature quarterback competition this offseason.
After months of speculation, the Tennessee Vols learned Friday that quarterback Joey Aguilar will not be eligible for the 2026 college football season.
Aguilar was denied a preliminary injunction that would’ve allowed him to suit up for the Volunteers this fall.
So instead, the California native will turn his full attention to the 2026 NFL Draft.
Tennessee, meanwhile, will feature a three-man quarterback competition this spring and fall between redshirt freshman George MacIntyre, true freshman Faizon Brandon, and Colorado Buffaloes transfer Ryan Staub.
Who will start at quarterback for the Tennessee Vols in 2026?
MacIntyre is undoubtedly the favorite to win the starting job due to his one season of experience in Josh Heupel’s offense.
The Tennessee native didn’t see much action last season — MacIntyre attempted just nine passes as a true freshman — but he has a full year of practicing in Heupel’s system under his belt.
The biggest concern with MacIntyre, aside from his lack of game experience, is his weight. MacIntyre, at 6-foot-6, is long and lanky, so 200 pounds on him looks a lot different than 200 pounds on Diego Pavia.
According to VolQuest’s Brent Hubbs, MacIntyre has put on around five pounds over the last month (which probably puts MacIntyre in the 203-pound range).
Brandon, however, still looks more physically ready for the SEC at 6-foot-4/206 pounds.
But that doesn’t necessarily mean he is.
Brandon may end up being the most talented option on the roster, but he still has to adjust to college life. He has to adjust to the rhythm of a much more structured schedule. Additionally, this is a player that missed nine games during his senior season due to an injury to his throwing hand.
I don’t think it’s fair to expect Brandon to go from playing in six games as a high school senior to playing in 13 games as a true freshman — or maybe more if the Vols can reach their postseason goals. That’s a huge workload increase — especially when you consider the more rigid daily schedule for college football players.
I’m not saying Brandon shouldn’t play, or that he can’t contribute in a meaningful way as a true freshman — he’s certainly talented enough to quickly make an impact.
But starting every game from week one? That seems like a big ask…even more so when the Vols have MacIntyre as a great option.
Even if Brandon turns out to be an electric true freshman, you’d rather have him hitting his stride near the end of the season instead of trying to get to January on an empty tank.
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