The Tennessee quarterback battle has been between redshirt freshman George MacIntyre and five-star true freshman Faizon Brandon, but there is a dark horse in the competition, and that's Colorado quarterback transfer Ryan Staub. Reading the tea leaves, it sounds like MacIntyre and Brandon have separated themselves from Staub, and moving forward, the two freshmen will battle it out for the QB1 job.
Josh Heupel reveals promising early returns from Tennessee’s new-look defense
When it comes to MacIntyre, it’s hard to ignore that he’s built very lean, and many wonder if he can hold up over a full physical SEC game schedule. The good news is that MacIntyre has added 20 pounds and is now weighing 202, a solid foundation for the young quarterback . The extra strength and weight will be huge for him, as the SEC is very unforgiving when it comes to physicality.
Tennessee Quarterback George MacIntyre says he has gained 20 pounds since arriving at Tennessee 🍊
— FOX Sports Knoxville (@FOXSportsKnox) March 18, 2026
Redshirt freshman quarterback George MacIntyre told reporters Tuesday that he was 182 pounds when he arrived in Knoxville, and now weighs 202 at the beginning of spring camp.
The… pic.twitter.com/R9e0hrngZB
George MacIntyre is bigger and now he has to show he can be the guy
We already know MacIntyre has the arm talent and athleticism to succeed. Physically, he needed to add weight, and he has done that. Now, it comes down to whether he can master the playbook and consistently make the right reads. MacIntyre threw a lot of interceptions in high school, but with Tennessee, Heupel will put him in a lot of good spots. He has a great supporting cast around him, and if he can make the right reads more often than not, he would be very successful.
Building on that, MacIntyre is a natural leader who leads a group of players and turns an offense. He has that natural edge to him, and he carries himself with a serious manner, like he is the guy. I have no doubt in my mind that he can rally Tennessee's offense and get the ten other guys beside him to play hard for their quarterback. MacIntyre has the physical tools, the intangibles, and now that he's added the weight, things could get very interesting over the rest of spring and during the offseason.
What lies ahead is unknown for tennesse and the quarterback battle. We still have five or so months before we truly know who Josh Heupel will name the starter, but MacIntyre is making a great case to be QB1.