Faizon Brandon Has to be coming in as true freshman starter no doubt.

[BernardKingGOAT]

Merk simply hasn't developed, by reports like Austin Price saying he's going to the portal, into a QB who HIMSELF believes he will start/play at UT. Why keep a QB who WANTS to leave? Merk doesn't want to spend his entire college career on the sidelines. Who would?

If we get a QB who jumps G-Mac to start in 2026, there's zero reason for G-Mac to stay. You seem to somehow feel it's 1980 and QBs are more than happy to sit their entire career. Even Gaston Moore finally transferred to get a chance to play.

If we go out and get a "splash QB," G-Mac has to conclude "They don't think I'm ready for 2026. But Faizon may be in 2027. I need to get up out of here if I'm going to actually play in college."

QBs want to play, not many can as true FR but they expect that by year 3, at least, they are "the guy." You're insisting Merk should stay and simply resign himself to riding the bench for his whole career. Would you encourage your son to do that or to transfer somewhere where they could play?

I think GMac may be more in the mode of sticking around, much like Arch has at Texas. He comes from a football family. Probably wants to stick around and compete here. With Brandon coming in he'll have to firmly assert himself as the the starter next year and perform well. If he does that, Brandon will likely transfer after his sophomore season

 

[knoxvol52]

Faizon is not sticking around until he is a Junior lol. This is 2025.

Neither will GM... Lol

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

I think GMac may be more in the mode of sticking around, much like Arch has at Texas. He comes from a football family. Probably wants to stick around and compete here. With Brandon coming in he'll have to firmly assert himself as the the starter next year and perform well. If he does that, Brandon will likely transfer after his sophomore season

VN may require sublingual nitroglycerin if Brandon transfers.

You may be correct. G-Mac may be that dog and true competition with Brandon would be good for the program and the locker room IMO.

Let's remember that our success with Heupel has been born from a very competitive locker room when he first arrived and that competition fostered strong development from guys like Hooker and Hyatt.

 

[GVF]

I would genuinely like to see Merk and Gmac get heavy reps to close the season. It will basically shut the door on the question of do we need to hit the portal or not this offseason.

As it stands now we are basically gonna force Merk to leave to open the QB room for a portal guy with experience.

I’d prefer to see Merk with live action to know if he needs to leave or not. Especially since the season is lost.

Is it New Mexico coming up after UF? That'd be a great game to give Joey a breather and let the other two each have a half. Not a game worth risking a Joey injury with Vandy and a bowl to follow. Maybe save a few minutes at the end of each half and throw Phillips(?) a bone. Wonder if that kid will ever be able to challenge for anything. Had a pretty solid HS career. Good dual threat numbers. A bit small compared to the others.

 

[GVF]

I think GMac may be more in the mode of sticking around, much like Arch has at Texas. He comes from a football family. Probably wants to stick around and compete here. With Brandon coming in he'll have to firmly assert himself as the the starter next year and perform well. If he does that, Brandon will likely transfer after his sophomore season

Kind of CJH's MO. If you battle it out and him being a year older he'd get the job if it's close, he'd really have to nose dive hard to lose the job. And that would either light Brandon up, or put him in the portal. Or CJH could go all Spurrier on everyone and run a 2 QB system. One guy may have been the declared starter, but he was not above pulling them and putting in #1-1/2 if necessary.

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

Kind of CJH's MO. If you battle it out and him being a year older he'd get the job if it's close, he'd really have to nose dive hard to lose the job. And that would either light Brandon up, or put him in the portal. Or CJH could go all Spurrier on everyone and run a 2 QB system. One guy may have been the declared starter, but he was not above pulling them and putting in #1-1/2 if necessary.

I don't think Heupel would ever run a 2 QB system. Hell, we rarely substitute on offense anyway

 

[GVF]

I don't think Heupel would ever run a 2 QB system. Hell, we rarely substitute on offense anyway

I got no issue with a 2 QB system if you got 2 quality players that are splitting hairs to be the starter, and they both carry weight with their teammates. IIRC, Spurrier would run some packages early, but the hot hand got the nod as the game progressed. I think there have been a few instances this year where pulling JA for Merck for a series would have helped calm JA down. THen send him back in. Might could have slvaged a couple close losses.

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

I got no issue with a 2 QB system if you got 2 quality players that are splitting hairs to be the starter, and they both carry weight with their teammates. IIRC, Spurrier would run some packages early, but the hot hand got the nod as the game progressed. I think there have been a few instances this year where pulling JA for Merck for a series would have helped calm JA down. THen send him back in. Might could have slvaged a couple close losses.

I do. It rarely, if ever, works out. There's a reason no one does it

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

I got no issue with a 2 QB system if you got 2 quality players that are splitting hairs to be the starter, and they both carry weight with their teammates. IIRC, Spurrier would run some packages early, but the hot hand got the nod as the game progressed. I think there have been a few instances this year where pulling JA for Merck for a series would have helped calm JA down. THen send him back in. Might could have slvaged a couple close losses.

Single wing or bust!!!! General Neyland won consistently with it! UT needs to remember our roots!

Screw these QBs. Recruit good tail backs!

 

[GVF]

I do. It rarely, if ever, works out. There's a reason no one does it

Not sure I'd have no issue with it if it's an equal 2 QB rotation. Can't say I've ever seen that. But, I got no issue with maybe two packages, or series, a game if the starter is struggling. Totally on board that you gotta have a primary starter for cohesion 85%+ of the time. And that'd be kinda relative to how the game is going and how many series you are actually getting. Maybe better to say I got no issue with potential rotations here and there if circumstances allow.

But, I'm certainly not against pulling for a series, or even just a couple plays, if you really need to settle him down. Then right back in.

 

[orangemadam]

Didn’t help? UT leads the conference in offense. Are you serious??

He is a very good qb but the record of 6-3 is the same as it would be
with Merk. Merk would not be as flashy but he would have won the
games JA won. JA has come down to earth and had he not thrown
the pick in the Ala game, perhaps the result would be different. Sorry
if my opinion hurts your feelings.

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

He is a very good qb but the record of 6-3 is the same as it would be
with Merk. Merk would not be as flashy but he would have won the
games JA won. JA has come down to earth and had he not thrown
the pick in the Ala game, perhaps the result would be different. Sorry
if my opinion hurts your feelings.

Those first two comments aren't really an opinion. It's more of wild, uninformed speculation

 

[volfan411]

Merk simply hasn't developed, by reports like Austin Price saying he's going to the portal, into a QB who HIMSELF believes he will start/play at UT. Why keep a QB who WANTS to leave? Merk doesn't want to spend his entire college career on the sidelines. Who would?

If we get a QB who jumps G-Mac to start in 2026, there's zero reason for G-Mac to stay. You seem to somehow feel it's 1980 and QBs are more than happy to sit their entire career. Even Gaston Moore finally transferred to get a chance to play.

If we go out and get a "splash QB," G-Mac has to conclude "They don't think I'm ready for 2026. But Faizon may be in 2027. I need to get up out of here if I'm going to actually play in college."

QBs want to play, not many can as true FR but they expect that by year 3, at least, they are "the guy." You're insisting Merk should stay and simply resign himself to riding the bench for his whole career. Would you encourage your son to do that or to transfer somewhere where they could play?

No I am saying the exact opposite this is not 1980 and anyone who thinks we keep both Brandon and G-Mac don’t understand the transfer portal and NIL. I have said all along if G-Mac wins the job Brandon will transfer after his freshman year.

My point is we cannot go into next season with only G-Mac and Brandon so why not entice Merk to stay rather than go to the portal where we are not going to land someone to sit on the bench. If Merk leaves and we have to go to the portal IMO it will force G-Mac to transfer as well. Agree or not that is my opinion.

 

[volfan411]

He is a very good qb but the record of 6-3 is the same as it would be
with Merk. Merk would not be as flashy but he would have won the
games JA won. JA has come down to earth and had he not thrown
the pick in the Ala game, perhaps the result would be different. Sorry
if my opinion hurts your feelings.

I agree with this JA hasn’t won any game that Merk wouldn’t have.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

No I am saying the exact opposite this is not 1980 and anyone who thinks we keep both Brandon and G-Mac don’t understand the transfer portal and NIL. I have said all along if G-Mac wins the job Brandon will transfer after his freshman year.

My point is we cannot go into next season with only G-Mac and Brandon so why not entice Merk to stay rather than go to the portal where we are not going to land someone to sit on the bench. If Merk leaves and we have to go to the portal IMO it will force G-Mac to transfer as well. Agree or not that is my opinion.

There's NOTHING in it for Merk if he's not starting at UT in 2026. Absolutely nothing in terms of playing time nor exposure should he think he can continue to the next level.

What would possibly motivate him to stay beyond overpaying for a backup?

 

[wmcovol]

Heupel and co had a first hand look at Hooker and still decided they needed to go get Milton. Won't lie....that along with Nico is making me question this staff's QB eval and development abilities. And that's the last position on the team I thought we'd struggle with.

Well, you question a lot of coaches ability on Nico then. He was extremely highly thought of coming outta high school, after his bowl game & the beginning of ‘24 season (remember Urban Meyer going crazy over him?).

After the spring game in ‘21, I recall hearing the cries from Volnation, Basilio callers, etc “he ain’t gonna give Harrison Bailey a chance. That’s our QB.” Joe Milton wasn’t even on campus then

 

[volfan411]

There's NOTHING in it for Merk if he's not starting at UT in 2026. Absolutely nothing in terms of playing time nor exposure should he think he can continue to the next level.

What would possibly motivate him to stay beyond overpaying for a backup?

Okay so then what motivates any other QB to come then??? Other than overpaying or promising the starting spot.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

Well, you question a lot of coaches ability on Nico then. He was extremely highly thought of coming outta high school, after his bowl game & the beginning of ‘24 season (remember Urban Meyer going crazy over him?).

After the spring game in ‘21, I recall hearing the cries from Volnation, Basilio callers, etc “he ain’t gonna give Harrison Bailey a chance. That’s our QB.” Joe Milton wasn’t even on campus then

The question becomes DEVELOPMENT if Faizon Brandon, also extremely highly recruited, doesn't develop under Heupel.

I'll give him credit for flipping the switch on for Hendon Hooker and doing a helluva lot to get Joey A ready this year.

We've seen limited development from Merk by several reports and unknown development from G-Mac at this point.

If G-Mac doesn't develop toward his 5* expectations, along with Nico not developing toward his expectations..... my expectations for Faizon Brandon will be muted.

Is that unfair?

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

Okay so then what motivates any other QB to come then??? Other than overpaying or promising the starting spot.

The same thing that originally motivated Merk to come: the CHANCE to compete for the QB1 spot and actually play in games.

It isn't working out nor likely going to work out for Jake Merkllinger at UT. That doesn't mean he can't start at another school but he likely will never start here. You're asking him to sit the bench instead of play for his entire college career.

He tried and it didn't work out at UT so transferring where he can play is one of the things the portal is actually good for. Instead of a good, reasonably talented kid losing a year to transfer, he now can go somewhere closer to his talent level and start.

 

[Orange_Vol1321]

Exactly how I feel!

He will redshirt.

 

[WaywardVol]

He is a very good qb but the record of 6-3 is the same as it would be
with Merk. Merk would not be as flashy but he would have won the
games JA won. JA has come down to earth and had he not thrown
the pick in the Ala game, perhaps the result would be different. Sorry
if my opinion hurts your feelings.

You’re drunk. My feelings have nothing to do with it.

 

[WaywardVol]

people need to understand that unless we figure out a situation that gets us back into the playoffs and national prominence you can most likely expect 9-3 or worse seasons until 2028.

if there was ever such a thing as win and win now for 2026, then I don't know what to tell you.


2027 - at bama, at Georgia, at ohlahoma, at Missouri
we also play the gators and ole piss and Georgia tech at home. this is crusifixtion level brutal.

2028 at LSU, at Texas and we play Bama at home

of course all this assumes that none of these other teams like Auburn or Arkansas or Kentucky "rebuild" their programs and get better than UT before Tennessee is done with their "rebuild" that we always seem to be in.

Other teams are agressively hitting the portal. Heupel isn’t.

 

[orangemadam]

You’re drunk. My feelings have nothing to do with it.

Very intuitive. I don’t drink. Unwad your panties

 

[Jackcrevol]

He will redshirt.

The freshman all world everything is going to redshirt? He steps onto campus as your backup day 1. How will he redshirt?

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

The freshman all world everything is going to redshirt? He steps onto campus as your backup day 1. How will he redshirt?

There's no guarantee Faizon Brandon steps on campus as QB2.

When Heupel goes to the portal, which he will do when Merk leaves, we have no idea if he'll seek a known QB who can be an SEC starter or a QB who is comfortable being a "career backup."

We simply don't know who Heupel might have an eye on or have had some back channel (don't call it tampering) contact with. For all we know the next Joe Burrow may be sitting at another school waiting to transfer to UT.

What will determine if Faizon redshirts will be how quickly he develops into an SEC QB in Josh Heupel's system.

It's unlikely G-Mac rolls over for a new transfer or Faizon in an open competition.