Tennessee football is heading into the offseason with a clear priority: find a quarterback in the transfer portal. And not just any quarterback - if the Vols make a move, it’s expected they’ll go after one of the top names available. That includes players like Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt, Cincinnati’s Brenden Sorsby, TCU’s Josh Hoover, and Iowa State’s Rocco Becht - all talented signal callers with starting experience and upside that could help stabilize a quarterback room in transition.
But here’s the catch: recent projections don’t have Tennessee landing any of those top-tier options. In fact, a recent set of predictions has Leavitt pegged for LSU, Sorsby heading to Texas Tech, Hoover slotted for Indiana, and Becht projected to land at Penn State. If those moves play out, Tennessee could be left without a clear veteran option - and that would make things very interesting in Knoxville.
Right now, the Vols have just two scholarship quarterbacks set to return next season, and both are long on talent but short on experience. Rising redshirt freshman George MacIntyre and incoming five-star freshman Faizon Brandon are the future of the program - but the future may come faster than expected.
Ideally, a quarterback room has three scholarship players - that’s been the sweet spot under Josh Heupel. It gives you a starter, a backup, and a developmental guy, while also protecting against the chaos that can come with injuries or unexpected departures. And as Heupel himself noted, sometimes you’re forced to go three deep.
“Yeah, I mean, there’s been years where you’ve had that happen, where you’ve had to play a third,” Heupel said. “So don’t want to do that, but it’s happened before.”
If Tennessee doesn’t land a top transfer - or even a depth option - the QB battle could come down to MacIntyre vs. Brandon.
Both were highly recruited, both bring serious tools to the table, and both are seen as potential long-term answers. But MacIntyre has a leg up, having spent a year in the system and already climbing the depth chart.
With Jake Merklinger entering the transfer portal, MacIntyre has moved into the backup role for the Music City Bowl. That’s a big step, and it’s not going unnoticed. Current Tennessee starter Joey Aguilar has seen MacIntyre’s growth firsthand and likes what he sees.
“I think he’s prepared,” Aguilar said. “He came a lot from when he first got here, obviously before I got here.
And then when I got here to now, he’s grown a lot, got the playbook down and he’s ready. He is here for a reason.
Super talented, super smart. He is a leader, so when he gets a chance, he will go out there and take advantage of it for sure.”
The transfer portal officially opens on January 2, 2026. While players have already declared their intent to enter, they can’t formally do so until that date - unless their head coach has been fired or left for another job.
So, for now, Tennessee waits. But make no mistake: the quarterback situation in Knoxville is one of the most intriguing in the SEC heading into the new year. Whether the Vols land a veteran transfer or ride with their young guns, the decision could shape the direction of the program for seasons to come.