QB 2026

#27
#27
Oldvoldad said:
Agree Merk will be gone, but gonna be tough to bring anyone in. What kid is going to transfer in without feeling he has a good chance of being the guy?
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Send them highlight videos of Aguilar and Hooker and a 1-year all-you-can-drink supply of flavored milk from Weigels, and we should be able to get any senior QB in the portal that we want.
 
#28
#28
BigAljr said:
I think Merk hits (told) the portal, they bring in an upperclassman to compete and Faizon Brandon wins the job!
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Do not sell George Macintyre short. I believe the ONLY reason he is behind Merk is his physical makeup. He needs a little more bulk for wear and tear.
 
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#29
#29
njvols said:
I’ve had this thought too. Find it hard to think a frosh starts. I’m betting GMac but who knows. Wouldn’t be shocked to see us rent a qb for a year
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If Gmac puts on about 20 pounds of muscle, he might be the QB next year. I believe it would be difficult to start the Freshman unless he really is as good as most people think. Could be interesting to watch.
 
#30
#30
Voltopia said:
The line of succession for 2026 is crystal clear. Merklinger up next, unless Merklinger really struggles and Macintyre can unseat him, with Brandon spending his first year getting acclimated with the system. If the staff gets a reputation for going out and headhunting senior QBs to transfer in and take the starting job away each year, why on earth would any QB sign with Tennessee out of high school?

I think the rest of the QB room could accept that, since it was the plan and Aguilar's a one shot deal, but if you go out AGAIN and recruit over them ... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.
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Most think Merk enters the portal. If that's the case, and we don't take a QB from the portal, we only have 2 scholarship QBs. If Merk walks, no doubt Heup goes after a transfer.
 
#32
#32
Voltopia said:
The line of succession for 2026 is crystal clear. Merklinger up next, unless Merklinger really struggles and Macintyre can unseat him, with Brandon spending his first year getting acclimated with the system. If the staff gets a reputation for going out and headhunting senior QBs to transfer in and take the starting job away each year, why on earth would any QB sign with Tennessee out of high school?

What happened with Aguilar has worked out great for UT, but it was a stroke of dumb luck that Aguilar was on the other end of Iamaleava's transfer out. All UT did was swap Aguilar for Nico. 1 for 1 trade, no backsies. I think the original plan was to work with Nico, keep developing the other guys, and see how this year shook out with respect to QB play - it's just that Aguilar took Nico's place in the scheme. I think the rest of the QB room could accept that, since it was the plan and Aguilar's a one shot deal, but if you go out AGAIN and recruit over them ... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.
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Have you watched Merc play so far? Definitely looks like a struggle so far.
 
#33
#33
Most likely starters:

1. Mac
2. Transfer
3. Faizon
4. Merk

I doubt Merk is even here next year. I will be very surprised if Brandon starts. There's a reason that transfer qbs, often from smaller program, are dominating the sport. Experience trumps talent, it would seem. Now maybe he will be like CJ Carr at ND and come in hot right off the bat, but I suspect Mac is good enough that FB will have to wait his turn. If he makes his first start with two years in the system under his belt already, that's a huge plus for us.
 
#34
#34
Rumors are Gmac is better than Joey but just needs weight and reps. Also they don't want to scare away Brandon and thus lose Keys. Just rumors, don't get offended, don't take this as Gospel.
 
#35
#35
Gandalf said:
Have you watched Merc play so far? Definitely looks like a struggle so far.
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Yeah, but that's not unique (think Hyatt his first year here, or Brazzell his first year with us - hell, Milton his first year versus his last).

Sometimes it takes time - or a few seasons - to click. Maybe he gets there, maybe he doesn't. But I'm not going to bury the kid. Heupel will make the call when it's time to make the call.
 
#36
#36
njvols said:
I’ve had this thought too. Find it hard to think a frosh starts. I’m betting GMac but who knows. Wouldn’t be shocked to see us rent a qb for a year
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Gmac gonna have to eat some serious beans and cornbread between now and then if he wants to hold up with our brutal schedule
 
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#41
#41
From what I am reading Brandon is the real deal and should compete for, and possibly win, the starting job as a true frosh. Dude is supposed to be everything you want in a QB.
 
#43
#43
Nothing against Merk, but in a years time I think GMac is going to be tough to beat out. Faizon is very young and moved up in class as well. He is going to be great but I will be shocked if he starts next year. GMac can throw and is talented, he just needs to gain weight and stay in the film room. I just think his top end talent is higher than Merk but may the best player win the job. GBO
 
#44
#44
LAVol1 said:
H
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Makes me wonder if Hype has a problem evaluating qb. He has not recruited a starting qb since he has been here. They have all been transfers. With this said, when he does have a qb that has the potential to be good, he does a very good job developing them. And also I would not trade Hype for any other hc.
 
#45
#45
HeuperDrive said:
Don’t think Merk is going to stay. Fully expect him to transfer out. He just does not look like an SEC caliber QB.

I think we’ll bring in a portal QB, wouldn’t be surprised if we take swing at someone like Josh Hoover and letting GMac sit another year.
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If Mac sits another year we lose him, and I can't blame him
 
#46
#46
37620VOL said:
Send them highlight videos of Aguilar and Hooker and a 1-year all-you-can-drink supply of flavored milk from Weigels, and we should be able to get any senior QB in the portal that we want.
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But why would you want a senior if you have a red shirt sophomore on your current roster, who I believe is going to be very good, Mac
 
#47
#47
cgrish said:
But why would you want a senior if you have a red shirt sophomore on your current roster, who I believe is going to be very good, Mac
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Because you've seen the Seniors game play and can pretty much know what you have plus the game playing experience, the red shirt you won't really know until he's played s handful of games
It's basically going to come down to who's available and do you want to pay for a known commodity or an unknown one.
Another reason why you need to take care of the cupcake teams early so you can see what you got in your R/S
 
#48
#48
cgrish said:
But why would you want a senior if you have a red shirt sophomore on your current roster, who I believe is going to be very good, Mac
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Because Brandon is the future and he might need a year of development. If a senior beats out Brandon, Brandon stays and starts as a sophomore. If a sophomore beats out Brandon, Brandon goes in the portal.
 
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#49
#49
37620VOL said:
Because Brandon is the future and he might need a year of development. If a senior beats out Brandon, Brandon stays and starts as aB sophomore. If a sophomore beats out Brandon, Brandon goes in the portal.
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But if the one who beats him out is good, it shouldn't matter. How many times in college football seen a 5 star bust at qb. What little time I have seen Mac, he was very impressive. You bring in another senior qb we will lose him. Mecelroy said concerning Mac when he has seen him that we have a gem with him.
 
#50
#50
cgrish said:
But if the one who beats him out is good, it shouldn't matter. How many times in college football seen a 5 star bust at qb. What little time I have seen Mac, he was very impressive. You bring in another senior qb we will lose him. Mecelroy said concerning Mac when he has seen him that we have a gem with him.
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Maybe, but Mac couldn't beat out Joey or even Merk this year so I'm not about to solely count on him for 2026.

And if he's as good as you say, he should be able to beat out a senior QB from a mid major. Transferring in that situation would be very telling indeed.
 
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