Every single day, Vols fans continue to wonder who will be their QB1 in 2026. It seems unlikely Joey Aguilar will be back, but the lawsuit is still pending, and Josh Heupel won't confirm or deny what direction Tennessee will go. He's been tight-lipped about everything regarding the quarterback in 2026.
If Aguilar is gone, many fans would like to add a veteran signal-caller. I'm in that boat, too, as Heupel can't afford another mediocre season. Some fans are keen on freshman George MacIntyre taking over next fall. "Gmac," as the people call him, flashed in his minimal playing time as a freshman, but he could still use another year of development. Joey Aguilar gave Gmac some praise, saying he is ready to take over.
Based on recent developments, it seems as if Joey Aguilar won't be back. Josh Heupel's actions are speaking louder than his words, too. It is being reported by Austin Price of On3 that the 5-star transfer and No. 2 quarterback in the transfer portal, Sam Leavitt, will visit Knoxville this week.
JUST IN: Marquee transfer QB Sam Leavitt making his way to Tennessee for a visit on Wednesday evening. ⤵️⤵️⤵️https://t.co/V10jW6e30J
— Austin Price (@AustinPriceless) January 7, 2026
Sam Leavitt is a top Tennessee QB target
This is the first real quarterback news Vols fans have heard in quite some time. Sam Leavitt has clearly emerged as Josh Heupel’s top target and rightfully so.
In 2025, Leavitt battled injuries and played in seven games, posting a stat line of 1,628 yards, 10 touchdowns, and three interceptions. Leavitt also completed 61% of his passes. In 2024, as a redshirt freshman, he led Arizona State to a College Football Playoff berth and won the Big 12.
This also suggests that Joey Aguilar is unlikely to be in Knoxville next fall. Heupel wouldn’t spend time and resources pursuing an expensive quarterback like Leavitt unless he were serious about landing him. Things move way too fast in the portal to waste time.
Leavitt should love what he has to work with in Knoxville. The Vols have an excellent wide receiver room with a boatload of talent. Heupel is a great play caller who will put Leavitt in advantageous situations. This also allows Gmac to develop another year physically and learn the nuances of the offensee.
If Tennessee can pull this off, the Vols will be right in the thick of it for an SEC title and a College Football Playoff appearance in 2026.