Tennessee has had a heated competition going on right now at quarterback. After missing out on transfer portal options, Josh Heupel has an open competition between two freshmen, George MacIntyre and Faizon Brandon.
Josh Heupel is noticeably undervalued in Josh Pate’s SEC coach rankings
Right now, as things stand in June, Brandon appears to have the lead, but with plenty of time remaining before Week 1, the competition is still wide open. This offseason, MacIntyre is working on something that could improve his position in the battle.
Former Vol Peyton Manning, along with Eli and Archie Manning, hosts a passing academy each year, and George MacIntyre is among the participants. He’ll head down to Louisiana to compete with some of the best quarterbacks in college football, an experience that should pay off heading into fall camp this August.
Tennessee QB George MacIntyre to attend Manning Passing Academyhttps://t.co/cO6ZYLYdRD
— Volquest Staff (@Volquest_On3) June 22, 2026
George MacIntyre is headed to the Manning passing academy
This is a strong move for MacIntyre, as learning from some of the best quarterbacks in the world is never a bad thing. Working with elite coaching and gaining different perspectives on his game can only help his development. He has a big-time arm and the athleticism to be a threat as a runner, but he still needs to improve his accuracy and decision-making. Running the Heupel offense is about more than arm talent, as it involves intangibles, command of the huddle, and overall quarterback control. MacIntyre needs to continue developing those areas to become a complete quarterback.
Brandon, on the other hand, has a lot of investment behind him, and Danny White, Josh Heupel, and the boosters want to see that pay off, so MacIntyre has to be the bona fide No. 1 option to win the job. He has another year of learning the system and developing chemistry with Braylon Staley and Mike Matthews, two of the top receivers in the country.
After spring practice, Heupel was pleased with the progress MacIntyre made, saying, “I think even Day 1, Day 2 of spring ball, from where (MacIntyre) was at the end of the season, you can see the steps that he’s taken, so really pleased with that,” Heupel said. “Faizon’s done the same thing in learning the offense. Ryan, those guys continue to progress.”
Overall, the quarterback battle is likely to drag on, potentially into the Furman game in Week 1, given how significant the decision is. Josh Heupel cannot afford to get this one wrong, as it could impact Tennessee’s season and potentially his job security.
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