‘I think that’s a bad assumption to make’ – Vols insider dishes on Tennessee’s quarterback battle with spring practice set to begin
The Tennessee Vols are set to begin spring practice later this month.
Spring practice is set to begin for the Tennessee Vols on March 16, which means UT’s starting quarterback battle will officially be getting underway.
The Vols are set to feature a three-man quarterback battle this spring between redshirt freshman George MacIntyre, true freshman Faizon Brandon, and Colorado Buffaloes transfer Ryan Staub.
MacIntyre, who attempted just nine passes as a true freshman, is viewed as having the “inside track” to winning the job, but this is going to be a “real” competition according to Vols head coach Josh Heupel.
Vols insider says fans shouldn’t just assume George MacIntyre will win the job
MacIntyre, a Tennessee native who signed with the Vols during the 2025 recruiting cycle, may end up winning the job, but it’s far from a given that he will.
VolQuest’s Austin Price joined WNML’s Josh and Swain on Wednesday and previewed Tennessee’s starting quarterback battle.
“A lot of people just kind of assume that George is going to be the guy because he was here for a year,” said Price. “I think that’s a bad assumption to make. I think George does have a slight inside track, because he does have time on task in the system. But [his] number of reps with the first team is the same (as Brandon). The number of reps with the second team isn’t a whole lot different. It’s more so just being in the system, knowing how to practice, what they like in practice, and all of those types of things that Faizon has to try to figure out.
“George is about 200 (pounds), Faizon is 215 (pounds). Faizon is bigger. He’s 6-foot-4/215, whereas George is 6-foot-6/200. So this is a time where George has to continue to get bigger. He needs to be 210 sometime by May….For him, it’s just about getting bigger to be able to withstand the punishment. But I think right now, he does have a slight leg up just because of time on task in the system. But that does not mean he is locked in and is going to be Tennessee’s starter. This is a total open competition, and he’s going to have to go out and earn it and win it.”
This is going to be a compelling battle to follow during spring practice. I don’t think Tennessee will be naming a starter before the start of fall practice, but spring practice should at least give us a good idea of who’s winning the battle entering the summer months.