Pete Nakos signals who has the edge in Tennessee’s QB race

The Tennessee Vols quarterback room is one of the most inexperienced in the SEC, but it has a lot of potential. After missing out on Sam Leavitt and Ty Simpson, Tennessee will have to turn to a true freshman in Faizon Brandon or a redshirt freshman in George MacIntyre. Both quarterbacks offer a lot of potential and different skill sets.

Jim Knowles reveals Tennessee’s breakout safety heading into the season

Brandon is a big, strong quarterback with elite arm strength and is a very good mover. He was also a strong decision-maker in high school, avoiding putting the ball in harm’s way. George MacIntyre, on the other hand, also has a cannon. He does a good job evading pressure, even if he isn’t a pure dual-threat quarterback. He has the exact size you want in a starting quarterback at 6-foot-6, allowing him to see the field and deliver the ball where it needs to go.

Many thought MacIntyre had the lead early on and that Brandon had taken over, and that may be true.

On3’s Pete Nakos has intel on the situation and believes Faizon Brandon has taken the lead, further reinforcing what has already been reported. Nakos said:

“Entering the spring, sources gave (George) MacIntyre the edge in the QB battle. But now heading into the summer, sources believe that Brandon has positioned himself to truly compete for the job and potentially start Week 1.”

Pete Nakos says Faizon Brandon has the lead

I think this is the move Tennessee has to make. Josh Heupel should go with Faizon Brandon. Obviously there is still plenty of time left, but I don’t see the reason to go with MacIntyre if Brandon and him are neck and neck. Tennessee has invested a lot into Brandon, and eventually, you want to see that investment pay off.

However, if MacIntyre is clearly the better quarterback, then you obviously go with him. But if they’re really close, I think you have to roll the dice on Brandon and see what you’ve got. He’s a true freshman with a ton of room to grow. Bryce Underwood played well for Michigan last year. He wasn't perfect, but he definitely showed flashes. If Tennessee can get similar flashes from Brandon, they should have a very good team, and it will prove that he has a very bright future ahead.

What makes Brandon so appealing is that he’s a proven winner. He won back-to-back state championships and seems to have that championship DNA. He’s also a very smart football player. He only threw 10 interceptions in 45 career games, including just one as a senior. Tennessee needs a quarterback who is going to be smart with the ball above anything else. The accuracy and footwork will come, but decision-making is a very valuable trait to have, especially early on.

If Tennessee can just get average quarterback play, with the weapons and run game, the team should be able to make the College Football Playoffs. The defense should take a big step forward as well with Jim Knowles running the show. If Brandon does win the job, he will have a lot of pressure on him to be good early on, and he will have to adjust very quickly.

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