KNOXVILLE — Tennessee's quarterback competition remains unsettled after the Volunteers completed their first fall scrimmage Saturday at Neyland Stadium, coach Josh Heupel told reporters. While Heupel praised the progress of both signal-callers, he said he wants to study game tape before drawing firm conclusions.
Heupel holds off on naming starter
Heupel declined to pick between Faizon Brandon and George MacIntyre following the closed scrimmage, saying the coaching staff still needs to review the event and learn from it. He noted the quarterbacks encountered some early communication breakdowns but responded as the session progressed.
“I thought as the scrimmage went on, both played at a really high level. Made some plays down the field. Worked through their progressions.”
The coach emphasized fundamentals he expects from his quarterbacks: ball security, decision-making and control within the offense. Heupel said both players have demonstrated steady attention to those areas across training camp.
What went well — and what needs work
According to Heupel, the positives included several downfield plays and progressions handled correctly under live conditions. The staff also ran situational work, including a four-minute drill, which the coach described as a learning opportunity.
But Heupel acknowledged that there were moments early in the scrimmage where communication could have been better and certain plays required correction. He said the desire is to see players not repeat the same mistakes when the coaches point them out.
- Positives: Effective downfield throws, progressions, overall growth in training camp.
- Concerns: Early communication issues in the scrimmage and areas revealed by situational drills.
- Next steps: Coaches will study tape and continue to push both quarterbacks toward consistent execution.
Context within the roster
The scrimmage provided a more complete look at the quarterback room in game-like circumstances, giving coaches more material to evaluate. Heupel said he liked the overall trend but reiterated that both quarterbacks — like the team — still have development ahead of them before Week 1.
Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles often presents multiple looks during practice, and Heupel suggested those looks have not prevented the offense from taking steps forward. The coaching staff will use film study to isolate whether mistakes were schematic, communication-based or execution errors.
What fans should watch next
The Volunteers are scheduled for a second fall scrimmage, which traditionally offers another meaningful sample for the coaching staff to assess starters and depth roles. Heupel framed this scrimmage as part of a process rather than a decisive moment.
Fans and media should expect the following from the coming practices and scrimmage:
| Area | What to watch |
|---|---|
| Quarterback decision | Consistency in communication and ball security under pressure |
| Play-calling | How the offense responds to multiple defensive looks from Knowles’ unit |
| Situational work | Execution in two-minute and four-minute drills |
Heupel said the staff is especially interested in whether players correct mistakes once they’ve been coached — a common litmus test for readiness at the college level. The coach flagged ball control as a specific point of emphasis; he noted the quarterbacks have generally protected the football throughout camp.
Implications for Week 1
Heupel stopped short of suggesting a timeline for naming a starter, saying the staff will let the tape and subsequent practices guide that decision. The coach framed the competition as one of growth: both contenders have had "good training camps," he said, but more consistency will be necessary to be prepared for the regular season.
Until the staff names a starter, Tennessee will continue to evaluate both Brandon and MacIntyre under live conditions. The approach mirrors Heupel’s previous practices of evaluating players across multiple scrimmages and practice reps before finalizing depth-chart decisions.
Further observations will likely emerge once coaches and coordinators complete their tape review and return to the field later in fall camp.
Brandon McAllister is the state correspondent for WE NEWS.
