Starting QB in 2026

Who do you want as QB number 1 next season

  • Joey Aguilar

    Votes: 142 55.5%

  • George Macintyre

    Votes: 99 38.7%

  • Faizon Brandon

    Votes: 14 5.5%

  • Someone else who is

    Votes: 1 0.4%
  • Total voters
    256
#26
#26
901 Orange said:
I think some of us are jumping the gun in the natural QB development dept. If Nico didn’t transfer he would be going into his 3rd year as the starter and GMac would be the backup. So what’s the difference with JA?? The process for GMac should be 3rd string in his 1st year, win the backup job year 2, year 3 start. If you put up big numbers go to the draft if not still have 2 more seasons. And the same process for Faizon.
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At some point a coach is gona have to evaluate hs qb much better. Using you scenerio. Mac if he is good you only have him for 1 yr
 
#27
#27
901 Orange said:
I think some of us are jumping the gun in the natural QB development dept. If Nico didn’t transfer he would be going into his 3rd year as the starter and GMac would be the backup. So what’s the difference with JA?? The process for GMac should be 3rd string in his 1st year, win the backup job year 2, year 3 start. If you put up big numbers go to the draft if not still have 2 more seasons. And the same process for Faizon.
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From what I have seen from Nico he was just an average qb. And that’s all he will ever be
 
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#29
#29
1SmokinVol said:
FAIZON is on campus, will participate in spring and summer practices. He'll be 6'4" /220 by the time the season starts and could very well be the best QB since Peyton/Tee or Hendon. Fact is I don't know and neither do you. But at some point next year he will start. Go look at his film. Throws an accurate deep ball with air under it unlike pineapple UCLA boy, he can wing it and zing it. See's the field -has a high football IQ and is fairly fast. We need a QB that is 2 dimensional and a serious threat to take off.
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Here's the receipts of when you wanted Nico over Milton. And thought he deserved a shot.

1SmokinVol said:
Unfortunately in College football players that make plays get to play-players that can't sit! PERIOD. As far as Joe waited for this or whatever? To heck with that noise if he can't make the plays -time to move on. Nico was a 5 star, let him get a shot.
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The truth then and now is that there's no way a true freshman starts for Josh Heupel. I'd bet Trevor or Jalen or Tua would not have started.

There's little chance Faizon is better than them.
 
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#30
#30
VolArmy74 said:
That "stop gap" threw for the 4th most passing yards in school history with about 120 days on campus before the season started and almost no time at official practice.

Having the worst defense in the SEC is why we didn't make the playoff last year. Not Joey Aguilar.
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Don’t forget to add in Hooker and Milton. While you’re at it, add in Nico since he was the QB on start that led us to a playoff.

It’s the system; not theQB.
 
#32
#32
EastTNVol6240 said:
JA is going after the ncaa cause it’s his best chance at making money. He’s not a nfl guy. Has very little to do with the universities needs
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If TN didn’t need him, he would have been told to move on. Everything else I agree with.
 
#33
#33
cgrish said:
At some point a coach is gona have to evaluate hs qb much better. Using you scenerio. Mac if he is good you only have him for 1 yr
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I think the evaluation is spot on. Year 2 they’re RS Freshman & should be QB2. So that’s 2 years of eligibility when they should takeover as starters not 1 and if they’re great they can leave after 1 year. Merk for instance got his opportunity to be a multi year starter last offseason. JA beat him out. In my scenario GMac was QB2 regardless because had Merk won the job last offseason this wouldn’t even be a topic.
 
#35
#35
a vol n tears said:
Ty Simpson could play another year for Ala. He’s an excellent QB and apparently Bama is ready to move on from him and play a younger player next year. Why is it so hard for people to look at Joey and accept Tenn May have better talent waiting in the wings. Simpson had no running game and led Ala to the 2nd rd of the playoffs. Im thankful for Joey’s time here but he’s had 4 years and has probably reached his peak. Going 4-4 allows me to think we have just as good if not better options awaiting. Apparently if Bama is not willing to pay Simpson, they think they do to.
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Joey lead the SEC in passing. If you think he, or the offense in general, is anywhere close to the reason for our record, idk what to tell you.
 
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#37
#37
I hope it's the best one after an honest qb competition. Honest being the key word here!!
 
#38
#38
Batman1948 said:
Why do you think a 17-year-old high school QB could make us successful going through a 9 game SEC schedule? I believe we will be in big trouble if we start a freshman. That only works if you have a roster full of 4 and 5 star players on both sides of the ball.
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Tell that to Lamar Jackson (but, in general, you are correct).
 
#39
#39
EastTNVol6240 said:
JA is going after the ncaa cause it’s his best chance at making money. He’s not a nfl guy. Has very little to do with the universities needs
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I wouldn’t mind making an extra 2 million this year, for playing a game that I love.
 
#42
#42
901 Orange said:
I think the evaluation is spot on. Year 2 they’re RS Freshman & should be QB2. So that’s 2 years of eligibility when they should takeover as starters not 1 and if they’re great they can leave after 1 year. Merk for instance got his opportunity to be a multi year starter last offseason. JA beat him out. In my scenario GMac was QB2 regardless because had Merk won the job last offseason this wouldn’t even be a topic.
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One for ut if they are good, they will enter the draft
 
#43
#43
cgrish said:
One for ut if they are good, they will enter the draft
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I think when u talk about NFL draft it can’t be just 1 good season, it would have to be 1 great season where the QB played at an elite level. Otherwise he’s going back to school and trying to improve his film
 
#44
#44
- The best QB in fall practice gets the nod. I would expect JA and GMac to split reps with the projected first-team offense.
- If it's not GMac, we probably lose him in the portal at the end of '26, unless he comes in at some point as QB1.
- If it is GMac, we have a very capable 2nd option in Aguilar. If this happens, QB depth is now a strength.
- Brandon knows, or should know, that he's holding a clipboard in '26. In '27, he gets his shot.

That's the best-case scenario. If '27 is "our year to make a run", we need to make it with both GMac and Brandon on the roster.

And I wouldn't count on JA being here this season just yet. At some point, the NCAA is going to have to force the issue. They seem to have a special brand of hate for UT, so...

JMO. I'm wrong a lot.

Go Vols.
 
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#45
#45
SubVet676 said:
- The best QB in fall practice gets the nod. I would expect JA and GMac to split reps with the projected first-team offense.
- If it's not GMac, we probably lose him in the portal at the end of '26, unless he comes in at some point as QB1.
- If it is GMac, we have a very capable 2nd option in Aguilar. If this happens, QB depth is now a strength.
- Brandon knows, or should know, that he's holding a clipboard in '26. In '27, he gets his shot.

That's the best-case scenario. If '27 is "our year to make a run", we need to make it with both GMac and Brandon on the roster.

And I wouldn't count on JA being here this season just yet. At some point, the NCAA is going to have to force the issue. They seem to have a special brand of hate for UT, so...

JMO. I'm wrong a lot.

Go Vols.
Click to expand...
I think we lose both if ja starts
 
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#46
#46
cgrish said:
I think we lose both if ja starts
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GMac, yes. And that would suck. GMac is clearly a die-hard Vol. Hate to lose that heart. Heart wins tough games.

Brandon...with his skill set...has to believe that he can beat anyone (on the roster or portal add) in '27, so I think Brandon stays regardless. IMO, '27 is when the GMac / Brandon showdown takes place. And we risk losing the loser of that competition for '28.

It's a tough spot to be in for this staff, and team. JA is a gamer, and can get UT on the plus side in the W-L column. And if the defense improves (how can it not?) then UT has a shot at the CFP in '26. But there's just something about GMac...can't put my finger on it (and remember, I'm wrong a lot)...that says "Let's see what this kid can do when the lights go on."

The addition of Derrick Baker interests me. Coach Heupel sees something in this kid. Coming in the '27 class, there will be time to develop him through the "Brandon Years" (if they happen). But a very interesting move. Keep your eyes on that one.

Nothing against JA. He has Given His All for UT, and he deserves credit for that. If he loses his NCAA appeal then all of this is OBE; it's GMac in '26. But if he wins, then I think this staff has to do all it can to get GMac ready to be QB1, knowing they have JA in the wings if it doesn't work, or GMac gets hurt. Brandon is a clipboard holder in '26.

I wouldn't pay much attention to what happens in the Spring. But come August, we'll see how this all plays out.
 
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#49
#49
Joey Aguilar is the nation's active leader in career passing yards and touchdowns. George Macintyre and Faizon Brandon have zero FBS experience.

Joey Aguilar is the nation's active leader in career passing yards and touchdowns. George Macintyre and Faizon Brandon have zero FBS experience.

Joey Aguilar is the nation's active leader in career passing yards and touchdowns. George Macintyre and Faizon Brandon have zero FBS experience.

Please keep these two facts in mind as you consider who is better positioned to lead this team through a 9 game SEC schedule.Screenshot 2026-02-13 at 12.20.05 PM.pngScreenshot 2026-02-13 at 12.19.39 PM.png
 
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