Tennessee is heading to SEC media days without a quarterback in tow, and that decision says plenty about where the Vols stand entering 2026: the job is still up for grabs.
Instead of bringing one of the passers, Tennessee will be represented in Tampa, Florida, by linebackers Arion Carter and Jeremiah Telander, running back DeSean Bishop and coach Josh Heupel. The SEC announced each school’s player representatives for the four-day event, which runs July 20-23 at the Tampa Marriott Water Street and JW Marriott. Heupel and the three players are scheduled to meet the media on July 20.
The quarterback situation is the obvious reason Tennessee passed on sending one of its signal-callers. The competition remains between redshirt freshman George MacIntyre and true freshman Faizon Brandon, and the Vols came out of spring practice without naming a starter.
That’s not a new wrinkle for Tennessee at this event. The Vols also didn’t send a quarterback to media days last year, when Joey Aguilar still hadn’t officially been named the starter after transferring from UCLA.
MacIntyre got a small taste of game action last season and kept his redshirt intact, completing 7 of 9 passes for 69 yards in brief appearances against East Tennessee State and New Mexico State. A former four-star recruit from Brentwood Academy in Nashville, he enters the race with experience, even if it’s limited.
Brandon brings the kind of recruiting profile that turns heads. Tennessee’s top signee in the class of 2026, he arrived as a five-star prospect, ranked by the 247Sports Composite as the nation’s No. 10 overall player and No. 3 quarterback. He also went through spring practice as an early enrollee.
Heupel will almost certainly be pressed on the quarterback battle in Tampa, but he has already made clear that the competition is expected to continue into preseason practice, which starts Aug. 5.
Last year, Aguilar wasn’t named the starter until two weeks before the opener. Tennessee opens the 2026 season on Sept. 5 at home against Furman.
The other two player representatives give a good snapshot of Tennessee’s roster strength. Carter and Telander are the faces of a linebacker group that looks like one of the Vols’ best units, even with new leadership. Jim Knowles is in as defensive coordinator from Penn State, replacing Tim Banks, who was fired.
Carter’s path to this point has been anything but smooth. He opted out of the Music City Bowl, declared for the NFL draft, withdrew from the draft, entered the transfer portal and then ultimately decided to return for his senior season. Tennessee will gladly take him back after he led the team in tackles during the regular season and added six tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks, good enough for a spot on the coaches’ All-SEC second team.
Telander, also a senior, finished second on the team in tackles last season.
Bishop rounds out the group after a breakout year as Tennessee’s starting running back. The former walk-on and two-time Mr. Football winner at Karns rushed for 1,076 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2025, tying for the fourth-most rushing touchdowns in UT history and earning second-team All-SEC honors.
He was on scholarship for the first time last season and was a semifinalist for the Burlsworth Trophy, which goes to the most outstanding college football player who began his career as a walk-on. Bishop is also Tennessee’s first returning 1,000-yard rusher since Jalen Hurd in 2016.
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