Tennessee football is diving into a three-man quarterback competition this spring, aiming to find the next standout under head coach Josh Heupel. The contenders? Redshirt freshman George MacIntyre, true freshman Faizon Brandon, and Colorado transfer Ryan Staub.
As spring camp unfolds, Brooks Austin from The Film Guy Network has been dissecting the limited college film on MacIntyre, along with high school highlights from both MacIntyre and Brandon. His analysis points to Brandon as the frontrunner, primarily due to his knack for minimizing turnovers and executing backside reads. These skills could be crucial if Heupel sticks with the offensive style from 2025.
“If I have to bet on what I know, what I see and what I know, I’m going to bet on the guy that’s got a 9-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio as opposed to the kid who can’t seem to stop turning the ball over,” Austin remarked. He emphasized the importance of accuracy outside the numbers and strong downfield play, areas where MacIntyre excels.
However, if Tennessee aims to continue with their effective pro-style mesh offense, which shone last year, they’ll need a quarterback adept at making complex reads. In Austin’s view, Brandon fits this mold perfectly, thanks to his ability to navigate through progressions.
With just four practices in the books, Tennessee is steadily working toward the annual Orange & White Game. Heupel has made it clear that a starter won’t be named after these spring sessions. Instead, he plans to let the quarterbacks develop through the spring and into fall camp, ensuring a full-fledged battle for the starting spot.