Story by
Why George MacIntyre thinks Tennessee QB competition is a beautiful thing
- Story by
- Why George MacIntyre thinks Tennessee QB competition is a beautiful thing
In 2022, George MacIntyre was a sophomore quarterback at Brentwood Academy in a three-man competition for the starting job.
He was just making headway on the recruiting scene after attending a Tennessee football camp that summer. But his college prospects weren't clear yet, and he faced stiff competition on his own high school team.
Advertisement
First, MacIntyre beat out senior Luke Smith , who moved to linebacker and later played at Furman.
Then MacIntyre beat out junior Max Holtzclaw , who later transferred to Ensworth as a talented quarterback and played at Presbyterian College. MacIntyre wasn't named the starter until the opening week of that season.
It was a satisfying accomplishment, and it taught him how much he loves battling teammates for a starting position — especially if he wins the job.
"It was super fun competing with those guys, and it's something I look back on going into this ( Tennessee quarterback competition)," MacIntyre said March 17. "I think (an opportunity to win the job) is all you can ask for. It's one of the beautiful things about football."
Advertisement
He said the mere opportunity to compete for UT's starting quarterback job is why he stayed with the Vols for his second season despite them exploring other options. Now he's likely the slight front-runner in spring practice, competing with freshman Faizon Brandon and Colorado transfer Ryan Staub .
How George MacIntyre reacted to Sam Leavitt , Joey Aguilar situations
MacIntyre's progress as a freshman helped clear his path to the starting job. Late in the 2025 season, it was evident that coaches saw more potential in MacIntyre than Jake Merklinger , who transferred to UConn in January.
But there also appeared to be a ceiling to their belief in MacIntyre as the potential 2026 starter. That's why UT tried to land transfer quarterbacks like Cincinnati's Brendan Sorsby (who went to Texas Tech), Arizona State's Sam Leavitt (who went to LSU ) and Missouri's Beau Pribula (who went to Virginia ).
Advertisement
And that's why Tennessee held out hope that Joey Aguilar , the 2025 starter, could regain a year of eligibility by suing the NCAA, but that ultimately failed.
MacIntyre watched the carousel from the sideline, communicated with UT coaches and hoped for his chance at the starting job.
"Obviously, there was a lot of unknown. But I liked where I was. I wanted to stay where my feet were, here in Knoxville, and I came out on the right side of it, I guess," he said. "As long as I had a chance to compete, I was going to be here."
How Tennessee coaches say MacIntyre approaches QB battle
Technically, MacIntyre was in a quarterback competition last season. But it was clear that Aguilar, a veteran quarterback who started two seasons at Appalachian State, had the inside track.
Advertisement
But this 2026 competition is quite different. MacIntyre is suddenly considered experienced, at least relative to his competition.
Sure, he attempted only nine passes and played 18 snaps last season. But unlike Brandon and Staub, he spent the past year in UT's offense. And that head start matters, especially because UT returns seven starters from the SEC's highest-scoring offense.
If MacIntyre can impress coaches in spring practice, summer workouts and preseason practice, he can win the job. It's there for the taking, and coaches said MacIntyre senses that opportunity.
"It's just a different animal when there's now not a starter sitting in front of you, and it's wide open," offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Joey Halzle said. "It's like everything that I've worked for up to this point is now legitimately sitting right in front of my face. So there's that different intensity, there's that different kind of sense of urgency when (MacIntyre) is walking around the building."
Advertisement
Does MacIntyre's weight matter to Tennessee coaches?
MacIntyre has pros and cons, and spring practice will reveal a clearer picture of his abilities.
Coaches say he has good anticipation on passes downfield. He sees throwing windows before they open. And he throws a nice deep ball, which was a key part of UT's passing game with Aguilar.
But MacIntyre is going through growing pains that only playing time can help. And despite knowing the offense better than Staub and Brandon, he still has plenty to learn.
MacIntyre's slender frame is a constant topic. He said he has gained 20 pounds since arriving on campus a year ago, going from 182 to 202. But coaches want him to reach at least 210 pounds on his 6-foot-6 frame by preseason practice in August.
Advertisement
During his first media availability of spring practice, MacIntyre knew the question about his weight was coming. He answered it quickly and directly.
"I understand why (reporters) ask about it. But I'm doing my part," he said.
Halzle is more interested in MacIntyre's growth in the playbook and as a team leader. And he praised MacIntyre because "he's gotten himself a lot physically stronger this offseason," referring to his arm strength.
"You can see it in the way the ball is coming out of his hand," Halzle said.
Coach Josh Heupel said he expects to name a starter closer to the season, but definitely not during spring practice. That could give MacIntyre time to widen the gap between him and his competitors — or it could give them more time to close the gap.
Advertisement
The Tennessean's Tom Kreager contributed to this report. 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 .
Get the latest news and insight on SEC football by subscribing to the SEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: How George MacIntyre views Tennessee football quarterback competition
