Josh Heupel stepped to the microphone in Knoxville on Tuesday with fall camp right around the corner, and the Tennessee coach had no shortage of topics to tackle as the Volunteers get ready to open training camp on Wednesday.
The quarterback competition sits near the top of the list. Tennessee is sorting through redshirt freshman George MacIntyre, true freshman Faizon Brandon and Colorado transfer Ryan Staub, three players who each saw plenty of work during spring camp. Heupel has spent the summer giving them space to absorb the feedback, and now the battle picks back up this month with the race still very much alive.
There’s just as much intrigue on the defensive side, where Tennessee is dealing with major change. Jim Knowles is in as defensive coordinator, and the Vols are also working through a wave of new faces from the transfer portal. That puts a spotlight on how quickly the staff and players can get comfortable with Knowles’ scheme once camp gets rolling.
Heupel also touched on position battles across the roster and the NCAA’s suspension of Arion Carter during his 20-minute session, part of Tennessee’s in-house media day leading into camp.
Now entering his sixth season at Tennessee, Heupel owns a 65-45 record with the program. His run has included an Orange Bowl win, a Citrus Bowl win and a trip to the College Football Playoffs, along with victories over Alabama, Florida, Vanderbilt and Kentucky.
With offseason workouts, coaching moves, portal additions, spring camp, and SEC Media Days already behind them, the Vols have spent months building toward this stretch. Wednesday marks the next step, and the questions are obvious: who takes control at quarterback, and how fast does the defense settle in under its new system?
Rocky Top Insider will be on hand throughout camp with practice reports, highlight videos, coach and player interviews, analysis and other coverage as the month unfolds.
In Other News...
Josh Heupel Blasts Arion Carter Fallout Tennessee Fans Will Hate
Arion Carters situation has become the kind of offseason headache Tennessee would rather do without. The linebacker was suspended by the NCAA after accepting a $427 flight during the pre-NFL draft process, then repaid the money once he decided to return to school, but the punishment still landed, leaving him unavailable for two games this season.
Josh Heupel did not hide where he stands on it. The Tennessee coach publicly backed Carters character and his choice to come back to Knoxville, while taking aim at the NCAAs decision in a way that showed just how irritated the program is by the fallout. For a defense that could use Carter early, the frustration is obvious, and the Vols now have to wait while the suspension runs its course. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee's Secondary Just Took A Tough Hit Before Jim Knowles' Debut
Tennessees secondary took an early blow before Jim Knowles even settles into his new role, with cornerback Jadais Richard set to miss the 2026 season because of a season-ending injury, according to Adam Sparks of Knox News. Richard arrived as a transfer from Miami and brought a reputation for versatility in the defensive backfield, but injuries have already interrupted his career enough to make his availability a central concern for the Volunteers.
His absence matters because Tennessee had been counting on a reworked group in the back end to give Knowles something to build around. After an offseason of portal additions and returning pieces, the expectation was that the rotation at corner would have more depth and more answers, but now the room looks thinner and the pressure on the rest of the secondary rises before the new system even gets rolling. [Read more 🡒]
Faizon Brandon Just Put Tennessees Quarterback Battle Back In Focus
Faizon Brandons presence at Tennessees in-house media day served as a timely reminder that the quarterback picture in Knoxville is still very much in motion as fall camp approaches. The freshman talked about the upcoming camp and the work ahead, just as the Volunteers prepare to open their first official practice with a new round of evaluations at the most important position on the field.
The competition will play out with George MacIntyre and Ryan Staub in the mix as Tennessee sorts through its options under center, while the rest of the roster adjusts to change on the other side of the ball. Jim Knowles takes over as defensive coordinator with a new scheme to install, a fresh staff to teach it and new players learning the details, which only adds to the sense that these first practices will set the tone for much more than one depth chart. [Read more 🡒]