Tennessee is diving headfirst into the modern college football era, and this offseason, the Vols didn’t just dip into the transfer portal-they cannonballed in. Josh Heupel’s program brought in 20 new transfers this month alone, nearly matching the total from the previous three years combined (23).
But while the portal has become the go-to fix for quarterback needs across the country, Tennessee is taking a different route. Instead of landing a big-name veteran, they’re betting on youth at the game’s most important position.
After swinging and missing on several high-profile transfer quarterbacks, Tennessee is putting its quarterback future in the hands of two talented but unproven players: redshirt freshman George MacIntyre and true freshman Faizon Brandon. ESPN recently projected MacIntyre as the Vols’ 2026 starter, signaling that Tennessee may be ready to hand the keys to a young signal-caller with upside rather than experience.
That prediction came as part of ESPN’s comprehensive look at starting quarterback projections for all 68 Power 4 teams. For Tennessee, it’s a notable shift.
The Vols are moving on from Joey Aguilar, the SEC’s leading passer last season. Aguilar’s story isn’t quite finished-he’s still pursuing an extra year of eligibility through a legal case tied to the Diego Pavia lawsuit, with a hearing scheduled for February 10.
But for now, Tennessee is preparing as if he won’t be back.
MacIntyre, a 6-foot-6, 195-pounder from Franklin, Tennessee, was QB3 last season behind Aguilar and Jake Merklinger. He saw limited action, but showed poise and efficiency in his two appearances.
In his debut against East Tennessee State, he completed 6 of 7 passes for 52 yards and led a scoring drive in the fourth quarter. He followed that with a brief cameo against New Mexico State, going 1-for-2 for 17 yards.
Those aren’t eye-popping numbers, but what stood out was how MacIntyre handled his opportunities. Coaches noted his growth throughout the season, especially during Music City Bowl practices, when he was elevated to the No. 2 role after Merklinger entered the portal.
“George has done a great job,” offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Joey Halzle said ahead of the bowl game. “We used December like a second spring ball for him.
He’s mature beyond his years, really smart, really competitive. He’s got college football in his blood, and he’s handled everything like a pro.”
Now, MacIntyre enters spring ball as the early frontrunner. But he won’t be alone in that quarterback room. Faizon Brandon, the prized five-star recruit out of North Carolina, is right behind him-and he’s not coming in to sit quietly.
Brandon, a 6-foot-4, 206-pound dual-threat, was one of the top prospects in the 2026 class. He spent most of the cycle as 247Sports’ No. 1 overall player before a thumb injury in his high school season opener sidelined him for much of the year. But when he returned for the playoffs, he picked up right where he left off, leading Grimsley High to another state title.
Brandon’s high school résumé is staggering: a 33-1 record as a starter, over 6,300 passing yards, 79 passing touchdowns, 1,261 rushing yards, and 21 rushing scores-all while completing better than 72% of his passes. Heupel couldn’t hide his excitement when Brandon signed in December.
“Faizon’s a great player,” Heupel said. “We saw him on the basketball court-explosive, great touch, great presence.
You see that same feel on the football field. He’s quick-minded, has a great football IQ, and he’s a leader.
He helped us recruit this class on both sides of the ball.”
Brandon gives Tennessee a future centerpiece, a quarterback with the tools to be special. Whether he’s ready to start in Year 1 remains to be seen, but he’ll get every chance to compete this spring and summer.
Tennessee didn’t completely strike out in the portal. They added Ryan Staub, a veteran from Colorado.
Staub started two games over three seasons in Boulder, throwing for 681 yards, five total touchdowns, and four interceptions. He brings experience to the room but isn’t expected to be the long-term answer.
His role may be more about providing depth and a steady hand behind the two young guns.
The Vols did take their shots at some experienced names. They pursued Cincinnati’s Brendan Sorsby and Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt.
They also hosted Missouri’s Beau Pribula and kept an eye on Alabama’s Ty Simpson, hoping he might enter the portal instead of heading to the NFL Draft. None of those options panned out.
So now, Tennessee is left with a fascinating quarterback battle between two players who haven’t yet thrown a pass in an SEC game. It’s a bold move, especially coming off an 8-5 season. But Heupel and his staff have made other key moves this offseason-addressing defensive needs through the portal and retaining eight offensive starters.
There’s no doubt this quarterback race will define Tennessee’s 2026 season. MacIntyre has a head start and the trust of the staff.
Brandon has the raw talent and the star power. Spring ball in Knoxville is going to be must-watch.