National outlet offers a very different take on what happened this spring in Tennessee’s quarterback battle
Tennessee’s quarterback battle appears to be slightly in favor of one Vol, but one major outlet sees another candidate with the better spring.
Spring football is in our rearview mirror, and phase one of the Tennessee Vols’ QB battle between redshirt freshman George MacIntyre and true freshman Faizon Brandon has taken place.
Neither player went out and staked a clear claim to the job during spring practice, so the battle will continue in earnest in fall camp in August.
However, the local media and insiders feel as though Brandon had the better spring or at least appears to have his nose in front in the battle. Tony Basilio said that he was told that MacIntyre “didn’t look playable” at times. Trey Wallace believes Brandon appears to hold the lead coming out of spring.
However, CBS Sports’ Chris Hummer and Matt Zenitz have a different position on the battle, one that has MacIntyre perhaps in the lead. Or at least that he ran Tennessee’s offense better in the spring.
CBS Sports insiders told that Tennessee QB George MacIntyre ‘operated better during the spring’
“The Vols might have the most intriguing quarterback competition in the SEC as redshirt freshman George MacIntyre, a top 20 passer in the 2025 class, battles 2026 five-star true freshman Faizon Brandon for the starting job,” Hummer and Zenitz wrote.
“MacIntyre was the more consistent and smoothest operator during the spring, but momentum is growing behind Brandon, whose physical gifts are undeniable and, he is looked at as the future QB for the program.
“Don’t be surprised if Brandon ends up starting at some point this year, potentially even as early as Week 1.
“‘George operated better during the spring, but physically, Faizon’s really gifted,’ a source said.”
That does not seem to match up with what Tennessee insiders close to the program have been saying since the end of spring football.
But that goes to show you that often you have to take whatever you hear with a grain of salt to some degree. That’s particularly the case when you’re dealing with young players, neither of whom has separated himself from the other.
One thing is for sure: it’s still an open, tight competition, and the job is right there for either MacIntyre or Brandon to go out and take in August. There’s no excuse for whoever doesn’t prevail in this battle.