An opposing coach just basically told Josh Heupel and the Tennessee Vols which quarterback they need to start in 2026
The Tennessee Volunteers are currently in the midst of a quarterback competition between redshirt freshman George MacIntyre and true freshman Faizon Brandon. A starter isn’t expected to be named until the fall.
The biggest topic of conversation in Knoxville this summer is easily the Tennessee Vols’ starting quarterback competition.
Tennessee is in the midst of a quarterback battle between redshirt freshman George MacIntyre and true freshman Faizon Brandon.
Multiple reports have indicated in recent weeks that Brandon is leading the competition entering the summer, but a lot can change over the next three months.
Opposing coach essentially tells the Tennessee Vols which quarterback they should start
An opposing coach who has faced the Vols before made a comment to Athlon Sports this month that indirectly tells Tennessee which quarterback they should start this fall.
The anonymous coach pointed out that Tennessee’s offense is at its best under Josh Heupel when it has a confident quarterback who can stretch the field and who is mobile.
The mobile part of that quote is key.
Tennessee’s offense has been its most effective during the Heupel era when it has a quarterback who can not only run, but who also has great field awareness.
No quarterback has been better in that area during the Heupel era than Hendon Hooker.
The Vols’ offense was at its best in 2021 and 2022 when Hooker averaged 44 rushing yards per game.
It wasn’t that Hooker was looking like Michael Vick on the field, it was that he was able to create positive yardage on busted plays. Hooker improvised well, and his ability to see the field (which also made him dangerous in the passing game) allowed him to make big plays when there was seemingly no play to be made.
Tennessee needs to go with the quarterback who can improvise the best. They need to go with the guy who stays calm and finds a way to make a play when everything around him is going wrong (because that’s going to happen in the SEC at some point).
Now, I don’t know which quarterback that is. I tend to think it’s Brandon, based on the rumblings we’ve heard, but that’s ultimately Heupel’s job to figure out.
But based on what we’ve seen from the Vols in the past, and what was said by the anonymous coach, I think it’s clear that Heupel needs to go with the quarterback who thrives under pressure when things go off script over the one who best navigates a controlled practice situation.