Ryan Staub's journey has been nothing short of intriguing. After three seasons at Colorado, where he logged 213 career snaps and earned high praise from Deion Sanders, Staub sought a fresh start in Tennessee. Despite the accolades, he found himself in a quarterback room that values current performance over past achievements.
During Tennessee’s opening spring practice on March 16, Staub found himself third in the quarterback drills lineup, trailing behind redshirt freshman George MacIntyre and five-star freshman Faizon Brandon. This trio is vying to fill the void left by Joey Aguilar, who led the SEC in passing yards last season before a court ruling ended his eligibility for 2026. Tennessee had initially pursued transfers Sam Leavitt and Brendan Sorsby, but when those options fell through, the focus shifted to the current competition.
Deion Sanders' endorsement of Staub still resonates. Sanders once highlighted Staub's composure, especially after a standout performance against Delaware where he completed seven of ten passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns.
Sanders noted, “Some guys just have that thing about them that you want to help them become successful. And he is that kid.”
Tennessee now aims to see if Staub can replicate that success in their system.
Despite bringing more game experience than his competitors, Staub quickly learned that experience alone won't secure the starting role. The physical differences in Tennessee’s quarterback room were evident from the start.
Faizon Brandon stands at 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, while George MacIntyre has bulked up to 6-foot-6 under the guidance of new strength coach Derek Owings. Staub, at 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds, received immediate feedback from offensive coordinator Joey Halzle on improving his throwing technique.
Off the field, Staub expressed his excitement and gratitude for the opportunity in Tennessee. In an interview, he shared, “I wake up every day, and I look at this city, and I walk into this building, and I’m just like wow.
How could you not be happy and grateful for this opportunity?” However, the quarterback competition will ultimately be decided by performance, not perspective.
With the season opener against Furman on Sept. 5, every practice rep is crucial. Staub is navigating a level of competition he hasn't faced before, and how he adapts will be key in determining his role moving forward.