The Tennessee Vols are set to begin spring practice on March 16.

And that means Tennessee’s starting quarterback battle is about to officially get underway.

The Vols will feature a three-man competition between redshirt freshman George MacIntyre, true freshman Faizon Brandon, and Colorado transfer Ryan Staub. The expectation is that the battle will continue into fall camp.

MacIntyre and Brandon are viewed as the two favorites in this battle. It’s MacIntyre, though, who’s facing the most pressure because he’s the only one with previous experience in Josh Heupel’s offensive system.

Vols insider details what George MacIntyre needs to avoid this spring

VolQuest’s Brent Hubbs joined 104.5 The Zone’s Ramon and Will on Friday and shared some thoughts on Tennessee’s quarterback battle.

Hubbs specifically pointed out that MacIntyre needs to “let it rip” this spring.

“The challenge for George, because the expectation and the pressure is on George, [is that] George has got to play within the confines, he’s got to take care of the football, but he’s also got to rip it,” explained Hubbs. “He can’t be checkdown Charlie. He’s going to have to push the ball and drive the ball down the field, because that’s the expectation, and that’s what he’s coached to do.

“That’s why Hendon Hooker didn’t win the job going into the 2021 season — because he was too conservative in spring and fall camp, and didn’t open it up until he got his opportunity on the field. So you’ve got to be aggressive there. I think Faizon’s playing with house money….He should completely just cut it loose and go play and then try to put pressure on George that way. But I think both of those guys, it’s going to be about execution, and it’s going to be about decision making.”

MacIntyre obviously has to take care of the football. But if he’s going to win the job, he’ll have to play free and with confidence. He can’t be afraid of making mistakes (mistakes are inevitable for any athlete). That’s something that Tennessee’s coaching staff has preached since arriving on Rocky Top a little over five years ago.

“We’re going to let you rip it all over the field,” said Vols offensive coordinator Joey Halzle after he was hired at Tennessee in 2021. “We’re going to put a lot on you and, to me, I would say that is quarterback-friendly because we’re not going to hold your hands. We’re going to teach you, we’re going to mold you into the best that you can be, and then we’re going to turn you loose to go play ball on Saturdays. We don’t make guys play scared. We don’t make them afraid to make mistakes. Go out there, cut it loose.”

MacIntyre has the inside track to winning this job, but he can’t be passive during spring practice if he’s going to head into fall camp still as the favorite to be Tennessee’s starter in 2026.

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