The Tennessee Vols are in the midst of a quarterback competition this offseason between redshirt freshman George MacIntyre and true freshman Faizon Brandon.

Vols head coach Josh Heupel isn’t expected to name a starter until sometime during fall camp.

MacIntyre entered spring practice with a “lead” in the competition due to his one season of experience in Heupel’s offense.

But after 15 practices, that lead no longer exists.

Insider says one thing is “clear” about Tennessee’s QB battle

On3’s Pete Nakos reported this week that it’s “clear” that Brandon has “situated himself to truly compete” for the starting job this fall.

“Exiting the spring, it’s clear Brandon has situated himself to truly compete with George MacIntyre in fall camp,” wrote Nakos on Wednesday. “Colorado transfer Ryan Staub practiced mostly with the third team throughout spring ball, making this a true battle between Brandon and MacIntyre. Sources told On3 that MacIntyre, the second-year quarterback, had an up-and-down spring and did not outright win the battle, which will now carry into fall camp.”

Nakos’ report lines up with what VolQuest’s Brent Hubbs said recently about MacIntyre’s perceived “lead” going into the spring.

“I think that Faizon has managed the offense pretty well,” said Hubbs earlier this month. “Now, he’s still got a long ways to go, and so does George. But I think Faizon’s ability to manage early in his career, to execute the huddle, execute the run game pretty well, and make decisions throwing the football — his talent is very obvious. I mean, he oozes with talent. He’s got size. He can throw it — all of that’s there. I think his ability to manage the game, and how much he has grasped the offense early in his career, is probably what has helped him.

“[VolQuest’s] Austin Price, I have to give him credit…for this point, and it was a great point. We think of George being so far advanced mentally because he’s been here for a year, but he really hasn’t played. He hasn’t even practiced in scrimmage settings where there’s really something on the line (before this spring). Because he was not going to win the job last August. And I know he had the first scrimmage where he was going against twos and threes and he did some good things, and [there was] some buzz about him. But the reality was he was never going to win the job. And so now, he’s in a place where he’s going against the best on defense. He is playing for the job, but he really doesn’t have that much more experience, other than sitting in meetings, than what Faizon Brandon has. So, there’s a little bit of a misconception that George entered with this great lead, and the thought now is that Faizon has just closed the gap that much. The gap to start probably wasn’t as wide as some of us acted like it was, or the perception of it was.”

“But give Faizon Brandon credit,” added Hubbs. “I think the mental side of it is the best thing he has shown through three weeks of spring, because everybody already knew the physical side was there.”

This battle appears to be a dead heat heading into the summer months.

It’s possible that one of these quarterbacks will take a stronghold on the job during fall camp. But if that doesn’t happen, Heupel may be wise to give both quarterbacks an equal shot when the season gets underway until one of them runs away with it.