The reality at QB in 2026 vs 2024

#26
#26
VOLfrombama said:
I think the biggest difference between 24 and 26 is we don't have a gamebreaker like Dylan Sampson. Sampson carried the O on his back in 24, literally. 258 carries for 1491 yds and 22 tds is wild. For comparison, Bishop had 182/1076 and 16 tds last season.

Id love to see Bishop take the next step to elite status. I think they will ride him more like they did Sampson in 24 if he can stay healthy since there's not a ton of experience behind him and no clear cut starter at Qb yet. The problem is all good D's are always going to try to take the run away, so you gotta have production from the Qb.
Click to expand...
Those stats put Bishop slightly ahead on yards per carry and Sampson slightly ahead on TDS per Carry, I’m good with that.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Megatron88, Heupel's Offseason Beard and orangebloodgmc
#27
#27
tennesseeduke said:
WRs elite
RBs elite
Offensive line possibly elite
Dline good
LBs elite
DBs exceptional
QB ????

Team could be elite depends on QB play.
Click to expand...
Our WR's are good with the potential to be elite. Practice reports have consistently noted them dropping passes. Our RB's are good, not elite. Our LB's weren't even good last year, but suddenly they're elite now? Don't think so. I'd be happy with good this year and elite in 2027. DB's were a hot mess last year. Now they're exceptional? Please. Like the linebackers, just being good would be showing massive improvement.
 
Last edited:
#29
#29
LittleVol said:
I said in November 2025 that Faizon will be the starter in 2026 but that doesn't mean GMAC won't play.
When I mean play I mean his own script of plays not mop up.

In 2024 you had RS FR Nico. With a strong run game and strong defense. Nico was a part of that run game. But you only had Thornton really on the outside.

In 2026 you have two big time proven WRs. Ethan Davis and Dasaan Brame at TE. Strong running game and what looks to be a good defense again.

In 2024 we let Nico be the guy and let Merk RS. In 2026 you already have RS GMAC from 2025. So Heupel can with good conscience let GMAC develop in game situations WHILE allowing Faizon to develop as a true freshman.

I think GMAC leaves but Heupel will let him play so he can have tape for other colleges come transfer portal. If it's fairly close GMAC could even be a 5 star in the Transfer portal and demand a boat load of money!

This 2026 team is much better than the 2024 team. The schedule may not show that, but this "bad season" talk is absolutely ridiculous.

We're a playoff team this season. Easily.
Click to expand...
So wait… If I’m understanding you correctly, GMAC will have an underwhelming season to the point that a true freshman will come in and replace him and then he ultimately transfers. Yet somehow this translates into us making the playoffs easily?

Non sequitur.
 
  • Like
Reactions: orangebloodgmc
#30
#30
MontyPython said:
So wait… If I’m understanding you correctly, GMAC will have an underwhelming season to the point that a true freshman will come in and replace him and then he ultimately transfers. Yet somehow this translates into us making the playoffs easily?

Non sequitur.
Click to expand...
You definitely are misunderstanding lol.
 
#31
#31
The Reality is the roster is 10 win season but QB makes us 8-4 . I have no idea on record but 9-3 sounds good. I do believe even in our losses we our in the game late the team is going to be much more physical. In CHRIST Alone
 
#35
#35
Vol423 said:
Our WR's are good with the potential to be elite. Practice reports have consistently noted them dropping passes. Our RB's are good, not elite. Our LB's weren't even good last year, but suddenly they're elite now? Don't think so. I'd be happy with good this year and elite in 2027. DB's were a hot mess last year. Now they're exceptional? Please. Like the linebackers, just being good would be showing massive improvement.
Click to expand...
Returning 2 800 yard receivers is more than enough to override offseason reports of drops. Jesus guys come on
 
  • Like
Reactions: orangebloodgmc, VolRage and VOLINVONORE
#37
#37
Taking off the orange colored glasses . . .

QB is a question - it’s highly unlikely either lights it up. The best to hope for is the QB position doesn’t cost us too many games.

We are not elite at RB. We are not elite at WR. Oline could be improved? Installing a new defense = some struggle. We are not elite anywhere on defense.

Outside of the questions around the QB, we are good to solid in most areas. In the meat grinder of the SEC . . . That gets you 7-8 wins.
And that’s why Vegas has us at an O/U of 7.5 wins.

I will be happy with 7 wins and in those wins we see hope for a great 2027 season.

8 wins is an excellent season for where we are.

6 wins . . . And CJH will be on the hot seat.

With this schedule, the only way UT wins more than 8 games . . . Is if GMac or Brandon is Johnny Football.
 
#38
#38
Go47 said:
Taking off the orange colored glasses . . .

QB is a question - it’s highly unlikely either lights it up. The best to hope for is the QB position doesn’t cost us too many games.

We are not elite at RB. We are not elite at WR. Oline could be improved? Installing a new defense = some struggle. We are not elite anywhere on defense.

Outside of the questions around the QB, we are good to solid in most areas. In the meat grinder of the SEC . . . That gets you 7-8 wins.
And that’s why Vegas has us at an O/U of 7.5 wins.

I will be happy with 7 wins and in those wins we see hope for a great 2027 season.

8 wins is an excellent season for where we are.

6 wins . . . And CJH will be on the hot seat.

With this schedule, the only way UT wins more than 8 games . . . Is if GMac or Brandon is Johnny Football.
Click to expand...
And this off the spring game performance? You know where the team is completely divided up, and there is not offensive or defensive game plans involved.

How many seasons of football have you watched where you were correct in your assumptions based off the spring game?

Come on dude...
 
  • Like
Reactions: orangebloodgmc
#39
#39
LittleVol said:
And this off the spring game performance? You know where the team is completely divided up, and there is not offensive or defensive game plans involved.

How many seasons of football have you watched where you were correct in your assumptions based off the spring game?

Come on dude...
Click to expand...
Last year the biggest question mark on offense was the WR room. Yes they had some drops but Chris Brazzell is going to be a day 2 pick in the draft.

We have the talent. It’s just going to depend on how it meshes over the course of the season. This season is a total wild card.

There’s a certain beauty and fear in the unknown. Looking forward to 26
 
#40
#40
LittleVol said:
I said in November 2025 that Faizon will be the starter in 2026 but that doesn't mean GMAC won't play.
When I mean play I mean his own script of plays not mop up.

In 2024 you had RS FR Nico. With a strong run game and strong defense. Nico was a part of that run game. But you only had Thornton really on the outside.

In 2026 you have two big time proven WRs. Ethan Davis and Dasaan Brame at TE. Strong running game and what looks to be a good defense again.

In 2024 we let Nico be the guy and let Merk RS. In 2026 you already have RS GMAC from 2025. So Heupel can with good conscience let GMAC develop in game situations WHILE allowing Faizon to develop as a true freshman.

I think GMAC leaves but Heupel will let him play so he can have tape for other colleges come transfer portal. If it's fairly close GMAC could even be a 5 star in the Transfer portal and demand a boat load of money!

This 2026 team is much better than the 2024 team. The schedule may not show that, but this "bad season" talk is absolutely ridiculous.

We're a playoff team this season. Easily.
Click to expand...
Whatcha drinking on D4H?
 
#42
#42
LittleVol said:
I said in November 2025 that Faizon will be the starter in 2026 but that doesn't mean GMAC won't play.
When I mean play I mean his own script of plays not mop up.

In 2024 you had RS FR Nico. With a strong run game and strong defense. Nico was a part of that run game. But you only had Thornton really on the outside.

In 2026 you have two big time proven WRs. Ethan Davis and Dasaan Brame at TE. Strong running game and what looks to be a good defense again.

In 2024 we let Nico be the guy and let Merk RS. In 2026 you already have RS GMAC from 2025. So Heupel can with good conscience let GMAC develop in game situations WHILE allowing Faizon to develop as a true freshman.

I think GMAC leaves but Heupel will let him play so he can have tape for other colleges come transfer portal. If it's fairly close GMAC could even be a 5 star in the Transfer portal and demand a boat load of money!

This 2026 team is much better than the 2024 team. The schedule may not show that, but this "bad season" talk is absolutely ridiculous.

We're a playoff team this season. Easily.
Click to expand...
Heupal does not play freshman qbs. How many snaps did Macintire have last season ?
 
#43
#43
SPRINGHILLVOL said:
Heupal does not play freshman qbs. How many snaps did Macintire have last season ?
Click to expand...
Well he has two.
He played Nico
He started Dillon Gabriel.

We can have a winning formula with the legs of Faizon and the run game along with a stout defense.

We didn't have Brame or Matthews yesterday.
 
#45
#45
camp_steveo said:
My guess is that GMAC will be the starter.
Click to expand...
Probably, but Faizon better get some plentiful and MEANINGFUL reps early and often. Heupel chose to roll the dice and settle for what he had on the roster instead of taking one of the other portal guys available after losing out on Leavitt. Better be preparing and game planning for playing a true freshman at some point this season.
 
#46
#46
GSPVol said:
Probably, but Faizon better get some plentiful and MEANINGFUL reps early and often. Heupel chose to roll the dice and settle for what he had on the roster instead of taking one of the other portal guys available after losing out on Leavitt. Better be preparing and game planning for playing a true freshman at some point this season.
Click to expand...
I think people might be sleeping on GMAC. He's going to be good this season.
 
  • Like
Reactions: GSPVol
#47
#47
camp_steveo said:
I think people might be sleeping on GMAC. He's going to be good this season.
Click to expand...
Perhaps, but injuries are a way of life in Big Orange country. Pick any sport and take the one or two guys we can least afford to lose and watch it happen. Thus it is written and thus it is ordained.
 
#48
#48
LittleVol said:
And this off the spring game performance? You know where the team is completely divided up, and there is not offensive or defensive game plans involved.

How many seasons of football have you watched where you were correct in your assumptions based off the spring game?

Come on dude...
Click to expand...
I have watched a lot of UT football - since the 80s. I didn’t watch the spring football game - nothing I said is based off of what did or did not happen in the spring game.

Correct in assumptions? Well . . . Assuming we will have growing pains breaking in new QBs (a redshirt frosh / a true freshman) in the meat grinder that is the SEC . . . Is no big stretch . . . I think there is a copious amount of data on that at both UT and other SEC schools historically. Could one of them be Johnny Football? Sure. Likely . . . No.

New defensive scheme - see above. Self explanatory.

Vegas odds at 7.5.

It’s not rocket science.

Transfers are a new unknown and the impact they could make. CJH has not been known to light it up in the roster management area. But assuming a lot of hits . . . And improvement in the oline and on defense . . . A new QB with this schedule still looks like a 7-8 wins season.
 
New Posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

Advertisement



Back
Top