Coach Josh Heupel spent much of Tennessee football spring practice speaking in the future tense about the quarterback competition.
The Orange & White Spring Game was no exception. In his postgame news conference, his favorite word was “grow” when breaking down the battle between redshirt freshman George MacIntyre and five-star freshman Faizon Brandon, along with Colorado transfer Ryan Staub as the dark horse candidate.
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Heupel expects them to grow physically. MacIntyre still needs to add weight to his 6-foot-6, 201-pound frame.
He expects them to grow in the playbook. Brandon must gain a better understanding of the running game and pass protection during the offseason. MacIntyre, with a one-year head start, can’t rest on his laurels.
And they must grow beyond their spring performances. Neither MacIntyre nor Brandon played at a consistently high level in UT’s intrasquad scrimmages or the spring game.
UT coaches are the experts and decision-makers in this competition. But it was clear to reporters and the 48,000 fans who watched the spring game at Neyland Stadium that neither quarterback has claimed the job yet.
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Heupel said he wouldn’t name a starting quarterback in the spring. Here are three questions he and offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Joey Halzle must ponder before finally picking one.
Does Tennessee need a game manager or playmaker?
At best, MacIntyre could play sort of a point guard role in UT’s offense. He could take advantage of skilled players around him and distribute the ball without many frills.
The lineup is potentially set up to support that type of quarterback. UT returns an All-SEC running back (DeSean Bishop), two talented receivers (Braylon Staley, Mike Matthews), an athletic tight end (Ethan Davis) and five offensive linemen who started last season.
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At best, Brandon could be a dynamic playmaker. He has a live arm and a burst of speed when escaping the pocket.
If done well, that skill set could maximize the other playmakers’ performances on offense. But if Brandon hasn’t honed those skills yet, he could squander the talent around him with turnovers, errant throws and indecisive play.
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UT’s needs on offense could dictate which type of quarterback fits best. And how close MacIntyre is to a game-manager role and Brandon to a playmaking role could make the decision.
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What do Tennessee coaches see that we do not?
Put evaluations of the spring game to the side. After all, some key players sat out or had limited snaps. The playcalling was conservative. And the format often didn’t involve live tackling.
Coaches watched all 15 practices and scrimmages of spring. And they’ve sat with the quarterbacks in the film room and position meetings countless times. They know which quarterback has a better handle on the job and their trajectory.
Early in spring practice, Halzle said quarterbacks must process quickly after the snap and adjust quickly to the defense’s counter moves.
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Heupel hinted at that same factor after the spring game. He said “mastering what’s happening on the other side of the football” is critical.
That’s not evident to the untrained eye, but coaches must figure out who can react best to opposing defenses. It’s a holistic evaluation well beyond a single scrimmage.
Should Josh Heupel let it play out during season?
UT opens at home against Furman (Sept. 5), is at Georgia Tech (Sept. 12) and at home against Kennesaw State (Sept. 19). Presumably, MacIntyre and Brandon will both play against Furman and Kennesaw State if those are lopsided scores.
Against Georgia Tech, Heupel must choose a starter. But if the Vols struggle in that road game against a good opponent, the other quarterback might get a shot. Remember that Heupel successfully switched from Joe Milton III to Hendon Hooker in the second game of the 2021 season.
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The schedule opens the possibility of letting the competition play out during the season. If Heupel and Halzle are unsure, games could determine the starter.
Tennessee hosts Texas on Sept. 26 to start a daunting stretch of SEC games. The Vols must have a starting quarterback by then, but not necessarily before that.
Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee football quarterback questions for George MacIntyre, Faizon Brandon
