Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel had a busy morning Saturday after the Vols went through their first scrimmage of fall camp, and the biggest questions surrounding this team were right there in front of him: the quarterback battle, a key injury, and how the new pieces are settling in.
Heupel spent about eight minutes with the media and touched on a wide range of topics, including the quarterbacks, Edrees Farooq’s injury, the running back and receiver rooms, and tackling drills.
The quarterback competition remains the headliner in Knoxville. Redshirt freshman George MacIntyre, true freshman Faizon Brandon, and Colorado transfer Ryan Staub are the three names in the mix, and all of them got a significant amount of work during spring camp. Heupel then gave the group the summer to absorb the feedback and reset before camp picked back up this month.
On the other side of the ball, Tennessee is dealing with a very different kind of transition. The defense has undergone major turnover, from a new coaching staff led by defensive coordinator Jim Knowles to a wave of newcomers through the transfer portal. That leaves the Vols with plenty to sort out as camp continues, especially when it comes to how quickly the players and staff can get comfortable in Knowles’ system.
Saturday’s update was just one piece of a month that figures to stay packed with Tennessee storylines. The Vols are navigating a crowded fall camp, and the competition at quarterback and the reshaped defense are still the two biggest things to watch.
In Other News...
Tennessees QB Battle Just Took A Turn Fans Needed To See
Tennessee still has a little time before the season opener against Furman, but the quarterback picture is beginning to come into focus. Five-star freshmen Faizon Brandon and George MacIntyre are competing for the job, and Josh Heupel came away from a recent scrimmage talking up the growth both young passers have shown as the Vols work through the final stretch of camp.
The part fans are watching most closely is the direction of the battle after that scrimmage, because one insider in attendance came away with a clear sense that Brandon has the edge right now. Even so, Tennessee has not made anything official yet, which leaves the door open for the competition to keep unfolding as the opener gets closer. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Fall Camp Just Put Its Biggest Unanswered Questions On Display
Tennessees seventh fall camp practice brought the first real chance to hear how the roster is sorting itself out, with media day giving a look at both sides of the ball. Wide receivers coach Kelsey Pope and players including Radarious Jackson, Joakim Dodson, DaSaahn Brame and Trent Thomas all met with reporters, while the buzz around camp stayed centered on a quarterback battle and the early stages of a new defensive setup.
George MacIntyre, Faizon Brandon and Ryan Staub are still in the mix as the offense tries to settle its most important job, and the defense is working through life under coordinator Jim Knowles. There is still plenty to learn before Tennessee gets all the answers it wants, but fall camp is already laying out the biggest questions on the board, and Rocky Top Insider will keep tracking the practices, interviews and analysis as the month moves on. [Read more 🡒]