Tennessee’s quarterback picture has narrowed, even if Josh Heupel isn’t ready to stamp George MacIntyre as the unquestioned No. 1.
MacIntyre has handled the job since taking over just before halftime against Auburn, and the results have come in a mixed but very real stretch of meaningful snaps. He helped Tennessee finish off Auburn, then guided the Vols to a road win at Arkansas and a big rivalry victory against Alabama before the rough road trip to South Carolina.
Heupel said the sophomore is still in the middle of that growth process.
“Well, every exposure you have, you learn from, you gain confidence from,” Heupel said. “There’s some things he did at a really high level last Saturday (against South Carolina). There’s some things that he’s got to be a lot better in and would like to have back too.”
Against the Gamecocks, MacIntyre completed 16-of-23 passes for 136 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions. He was also strip-sacked late, and that play set up South Carolina’s game-winning kick.
But the box score barely scratches the surface of what happened in that game. MacIntyre had three touchdown passes erased by penalties - the first two because receivers were lined up illegally, and the third on a controversial hold.
“If you’re simply looking at results of plays, that can be extremely misleading,” Heupel said. “Stats that show up on a sheet that are hazardous reads, throws, whatever it might be, too. And so you’re looking at the full body of work.”
Across six appearances this season, MacIntyre has thrown for 728 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. His workload has been uneven, though, with the opener against Furman limited, the Texas game coming in relief of Brandon for just one series, and Auburn lasting a little more than a half.
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For the Vols, the encouraging part is that Glasco has remained in regular contact with the coaching staff and came away from a recent visit with Tennessee firmly in the conversation. That kind of late momentum matters in a battle like this, especially when the competition includes two heavyweight SEC neighbors, and it leaves Tennessee with a real opening as his decision approaches. [Read more 🡒]