Tennessee’s linebacker room took center stage on Saturday after the Volunteers’ third fall camp practice, with linebackers coach William Inge opening the media session before Amare Campbell, Jeremiah Telander, Jaedon Harmon, and LEO Christian Gass each spoke.
Inge and Telander were among the first interviews from the day, giving the group a chance to discuss where things stand as camp continues.
The attention on Tennessee this month hasn’t been limited to one position group, though. The Vols have spent a nonstop offseason cycling through coaching hires, portal additions, high school newcomers, spring camp, and SEC Media Days, and two major storylines have carried most of the buzz.
The first is the quarterback battle. Sophomore George MacIntyre, freshman Faizon Brandon, and senior Ryan Staub are all in the mix, and each got a heavy workload during spring camp. Josh Heupel then backed off and gave the quarterbacks time to absorb the coaching over the summer before bringing the competition back to the forefront this month.
The other big issue sits on defense, where Tennessee is dealing with plenty of change. A new defensive staff led by coordinator Jim Knowles, along with a wave of transfers, means there are a lot of new faces learning and competing as camp unfolds. How fast the Vols adjust to Knowles’ scheme remains one of the key questions heading toward the season.
Rocky Top Insider will continue covering camp with practice reports, highlight videos, coach and player interviews, analysis, and other in-conference news throughout the month, with updates available whenever media is allowed to watch.
In Other News...
Tennessee Is Building Early Buzz With A Running Back Fans Should Know
Tennessees early recruiting buzz in the backfield is getting a boost from a familiar face. Kesean Bowman, one of the Vols top commitments in the 2027 class, is already working the phones on behalf of Zachary Belyeu, a 2028 running back with a growing offer list and a strong start at North Cobb High School in Georgia. Belyeu has already topped 1,000 rushing yards through his first two seasons, the kind of production that has made him a name to watch long before his senior year.
Bowmans push matters because Tennessee is trying to build momentum with younger prospects, and Belyeu has reasons to keep the Vols near the front of his mind. He has praised running backs coach DeRail Sims and head coach Josh Heupel, and he is planning to get to Knoxville this fall. For Tennessee, the next step is turning that early interest into something more lasting before the rest of the recruiting field closes in. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessees Quarterback Battle Just Got More Intriguing For One Big Reason
Fall camp is underway in Knoxville, and Tennessees quarterback competition has settled into the kind of battle that usually follows a program into August with equal parts intrigue and nerves. Sophomore George MacIntyre and freshman Faizon Brandon are both still in the mix for the starting job as the Vols build toward the 2026 season opener, with no official decision in place yet and the next stretch of work carrying real weight.
Brandon already arrives with plenty of buzz after ESPN pegged him among the SECs top freshman quarterback prospects, which only sharpens the attention on how this race develops from here. The real separating ground is expected to come in the upcoming closed-door scrimmages, where Tennessee will finally get a better read on how the competition looks when the lights are off and the reps start to matter a little more. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Heupels Fall Camp Message Is Exactly What Tennessee Needed
Tennessees offseason has been about getting back to the standard Josh Heupel established early in his tenure, and the latest glimpse of fall camp offered a reminder of how he is trying to push the program forward. After an 8-5 finish in 2025 and a bowl loss to Illinois, the Vols are back at work with Heupel entering his sixth season in Knoxville and holding a 45-20 record overall.
A new micd-up video from Tennessee football captured Heupel in his element during camp, giving fans a look at the tone he is setting as the 2026 season approaches. For a team looking to sharpen itself after an uneven SEC run and a disappointing finish last year, the message is less about flash and more about the day-to-day habits that can lift Tennessee back into a better position. [Read more 🡒]