Tennessee’s pass catchers took center stage with the media on Friday after the Volunteers’ seventh fall camp practice, giving Kelsey Pope and a handful of receivers and tight ends a chance to address where things stand early in camp.
Wide receivers coach Kelsey Pope spoke first, followed by wide receivers Radarious Jackson and Joakim Dodson, along with tight ends DaSaahn Brame and Trent Thomas.
Friday’s media availability came as Tennessee continues working through a camp that has already packed in a long offseason’s worth of movement and attention. The program has been through coaching hires, portal additions, high school newcomers, spring camp, and a trip to SEC Media Days, but two storylines have drawn the most focus over the last seven months.
The first is the quarterback battle. Sophomore George MacIntyre, freshman Faizon Brandon, and senior Ryan Staub are all in the mix, and each got plenty of work during spring camp. Josh Heupel then gave the group time to absorb the feedback over the summer before the competition picked back up this month.
The other major storyline is on defense, where Tennessee has undergone major change. A new defensive coaching staff led by coordinator Jim Knowles, plus a wave of transfer portal additions, means the Volunteers are breaking in a lot of new faces on that side of the ball. How fast the players and staff get comfortable in Knowles’ system remains one of the biggest questions heading into the season.
Rocky Top Insider said it will continue to provide on-site practice reports, highlight videos, press conference interviews, analysis, and other in-conference coverage throughout the month whenever media is allowed in.
In Other News...
Heupels First Scrimmage Put Tennessees Biggest Camp Questions In Focus
Josh Heupels first fall camp scrimmage offered Tennessee a useful early checkpoint as the Vols continue sorting through two of the biggest questions on the roster. The head coach met with the media afterward and touched on the quarterback competition, while also giving an update on a defense that is in the middle of major change under new coordinator Jim Knowles.
The defensive makeover includes a new coaching staff and transfer additions, which makes every practice rep feel a little more meaningful in August. On offense, the quarterback race remains unsettled, and the next stretch of camp figures to matter as Tennessee keeps evaluating where things stand. Rocky Top Insider will continue following the Vols throughout the fall. [Read more 🡒]
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 🡒]