With Jake Merklinger entering the transfer portal, Tennessee’s quarterback depth chart for the Music City Bowl has shifted - and all eyes are now on George MacIntyre, who steps into the No. 2 role behind starter Nico Iamaleava for Tuesday’s matchup against Illinois.
While MacIntyre may not see the field, the Vols’ coaching staff has made it clear: they’re confident in what they’ve seen from the freshman during bowl prep. Offensive coordinator Joey Halzle spoke highly of the young signal-caller, praising his maturity and approach during a key developmental stretch.
“George has done a great job,” Halzle said Monday. “When we first got into bowl prep, he was already taking backup reps, so this wasn’t something that just got dropped on him. We looked at December as a kind of spring ball for him - a chance to really get him going, get those reps under his belt.”
That extra work could pay dividends down the line. MacIntyre, a true freshman out of Brentwood Academy in Tennessee, came to Knoxville with a strong pedigree and high expectations. Ranked as the No. 2 player in the state and the No. 13 quarterback nationally in the 2025 class, he’s long been seen as a potential key piece of the Vols’ future.
What’s impressed the staff most, though, isn’t just his talent - it’s how he’s handled the moment.
“He’s a really competitive kid, really smart, mature beyond his years,” Halzle added. “He’s grown up around college football, so he understands the business side of it.
And he’s approached this opportunity exactly how you’d want - with a mature, business-like mindset. I feel good about where he’s at, and if he has to go in the game, I feel comfortable he’ll go play.”
MacIntyre’s in-game experience this season has been limited - just two appearances, throwing nine passes against East Tennessee State and New Mexico State. But the staff has used bowl practices to accelerate his development, giving him meaningful reps in a setting that mimics spring camp intensity.
Head coach Josh Heupel, meanwhile, isn’t tipping his hand on whether MacIntyre will see action against Illinois. The plan, for now, is to let the game dictate that decision.
“We’ll just kind of see how the game unfolds and what the identity of the game is,” Heupel said. “Nothing where we’re planning on putting him in second series or anything like that.”
Translation: barring injury or a blowout, MacIntyre will likely stay on the sidelines. But make no mistake - the Vols are getting a closer look at their quarterback of the future, and by all accounts, he’s making the most of the moment.