Would Coach Heupel start a true freshman QB ?

[jasonvol18]

If Heupel thought that he would not have recruited over both Merk and Mac. He would start them if Ag was a total failure after getting him on campus but that does not seem to be the case. Both Merk and Mac will be challenged by Heupel's QB coming in next year as a freshman.

He hasn't recruited over either one of them. QB is the hardest position to evaluate. A QB can be Mr Everything in HS, but if he doesn't have it between his ears and can't process or make quick decisions, he will never be a good QB beyond HS. Coach's CAN'T predict or evaluate that. There's more 5* busts at QB than any position. You recruit the best every year and hope atleast 1 pans out. Not to mention, with the transfer portal guys are going to leave if they don't play. It's hard to stack depth anymore. It's hard to recruit over someone that's been on campus a few months by a kid that's in HS. That's just ridiculously incorrect.

 

[jasonvol18]

A bit frustrating. Why don't these QBs bulk up between their senior and freshman years? The kid on OL did.

That's easier said than done. It truly depends on their frame. Some guys can be 6'5 and have a thicker frame. Guys like GMac are just skinny as hell and will never be muscle head like some can at his height.

 

[jarnol32]

I agree he is way too thin. He would get crushed. He needs to sit this year, bulk up, and learn all he can. JMHO

I guess you don’t remember Tyler bray, or Eric Ainge..

 

[pricevol5]

Also, gains as an OL don’t have to be as strategic as a QB, who still need max flexibility and range of motion in throwing arm.

Anyone who thinks weight/muscle gain doesn’t change anything for QB should refresh the NFL career of Brady Quinn.

 

[jarnol32]

He hasn't recruited over either one of them. QB is the hardest position to evaluate. A QB can be Mr Everything in HS, but if he doesn't have it between his ears and can't process or make quick decisions, he will never be a good QB beyond HS. Coach's CAN'T predict or evaluate that. There's more 5* busts at QB than any position. You recruit the best every year and hope atleast 1 pans out. Not to mention, with the transfer portal guys are going to leave if they don't play. It's hard to stack depth anymore. It's hard to recruit over someone that's been on campus a few months by a kid that's in HS. That's just ridiculously incorrect.

Jarret Guarantano was a perfect example of this. He looked great throwing routes against air, but he couldn’t process what was happening on the field fast enough.

 

[jarnol32]

Bray was developed and had been in a college strength training program a few years. . Bray was also 220, not 195 soaking wet.

No he wasn’t . He played as a true freshman and started the last 4 games of his freshman year at 185 lbs. He put on some weight before his sophomore year.

 

[LAVol1]

I would of started Nico in 23 over Milton , we imo would of had a similar record and Njco would of had a full year of experience going into 24 . Same situation here with G-Mac . Ultimately it's up to the coaches , I'm just giving my 2 cents

What would happen if G-Mac wins the job and balls out? This would be a real possibility for '26: JA is out of eligibility, Merk transfers, Faizon sees his path to the starting job set back 2 years and de-commits, leaving just one QB on the roster. Due to that possibility, I don't think you can make G-Mac the starter this fall.

 

[jasonvol18]

I guess you don’t remember Tyler bray, or Eric Ainge..

Bray was 220, he was 210 as a HS Senior. Ainge was 6'6 as a HS senior and 200 lbs He was probably 210-215 by time he played.

 

[jasonvol18]

No he wasn’t . He played as a true freshman and started the last 4 games of his freshman year at 185 lbs. He put on some weight before his sophomore year.

You're right, I forgot he played as a Freshman. Simms got benched for sucking and we didn't have any other options.But incorrect on his weight. He was 210 as a HS Senior and 210 as a Freshman.

 

[volfan411]

What would happen if G-Mac wins the job and balls out? This would be a real possibility for '26: JA is out of eligibility, Merk transfers, Faizon sees his path to the starting job set back 2 years and de-commits, leaving just one QB on the roster. Due to that possibility, I don't think you can make G-Mac the starter this fall.

I think you start the guy who gives us the best opportunity to win and deal with all that other stuff in the off season.

 

[volfan411]

He hasn't recruited over either one of them. QB is the hardest position to evaluate. A QB can be Mr Everything in HS, but if he doesn't have it between his ears and can't process or make quick decisions, he will never be a good QB beyond HS. Coach's CAN'T predict or evaluate that. There's more 5* busts at QB than any position. You recruit the best every year and hope atleast 1 pans out. Not to mention, with the transfer portal guys are going to leave if they don't play. It's hard to stack depth anymore. It's hard to recruit over someone that's been on campus a few months by a kid that's in HS. That's just ridiculously incorrect.

after Nico left we were taking another QB out of the portal. You just couldn’t go into the season with Merk and GMAC and both had to understand depth is important in the position.

 

[jasonvol18]

I think you start the guy who gives us the best opportunity to win and deal with all that other stuff in the off season.

if GMac was gonna start, he wouldn't be getting 3rd team reps. And Heupel said reps wouldn't change, he's not starting unless he has to and I'm hoping he doesn't.

 

[Other_Guy]

Not a chance but he might as well. Merk isn't exactly taking the job by the horns and JA doesn't seem like he's going to he ready (if he's even good enough). If he doesn't want Merk starting next year, he might as well try it lol

 

[volfan411]

if GMac was gonna start, he wouldn't be getting 3rd team reps. And Heupel said reps wouldn't change, he's not starting unless he has to and I'm hoping he doesn't.

I agree I think it is Merk or JA but I was just referencing that recruiting and next season will not play a factor in who the starter is.

 

[jasonvol18]

I agree I think it is Merk or JA but I was just referencing that recruiting and next season will not play a factor in who the starter is.

I'm kind of on both sides of that fence. Say if GMac starts this year and plays well, Merk will transfer and not sure Faizon still comes here. Then we have 1 scholarship QB and we're stuck in panic mode trying to recruit another HS QB or finding a transfer QB that doesn't mind sitting. Could also depend on how they view Faizon, like if they envision him a True Fr starter. On the other hand, Faizon could love TN so much and thinks he could beat GMac out. With kids these days, it's hard to guess which will happen. If JA starts this year, then Merk,GMac and Faizon battle it out next Spring. Or Merk says F it and leaves after the season. I wouldn't wanna be the one making this decision.

 

[GrayWaterCanine]

Here’s how I think it goes. Merk starts. JA plays too his running ability and ability to throw on the run shows up in games whereas it won’t as much in practice, so he takes over by game 3.

I'm starting to hear this exact thing more and more.

 

[LegionnaireOfTheMiserable]

Wasn’t that on the school’s defense?

Any Tennessee high school team with a legitimate SEC quarterback should be able to get to .500 regardless of what is around him. They lost 4 games where they gave up 24 or less.

 

[Doberman]

All these guys are getting paid now, and as we saw with Nico, 2+ million guarantees nothing.

These are hired guns, and if GMac is the best, play him. If he gets broken in half, he gets broken in half.

And worrying about next years incoming class, related to who you start this year, is an even bigger fool’s errand.

 

[jasonvol18]

Any Tennessee high school team with a legitimate SEC quarterback should be able to get to .500 regardless of what is around him. They lost 4 games where they gave up 24 or less.

Not a TN HS, but Joe Burrow did. He had a losing record his Senior Year and we know how that story goes. It doesn't happen a lot, but definitely has happened. Manziel did too. And both won Heisman's. Same with Vince Young and Stetson Bennet, all had losing HS Seasons as starting QB's

 

[B81]

Any Tennessee high school team with a legitimate SEC quarterback should be able to get to .500 regardless of what is around him. They lost 4 games where they gave up 24 or less.

His junior year they had a terrible coach. They fired him, and gmacs senior year they only lost to great teams full of sec talent.

 

[Skooter]

All these guys are getting paid now, and as we saw with Nico, 2+ million guarantees nothing.

These are hired guns, and if GMac is the best, play him. If he gets broken in half, he gets broken in half.

And worrying about next years incoming class, related to who you start this year, is an even bigger fool’s errand.

Don’t really agree with this. There’s a different speed and time to adjust as stronger and bigger men try to break him in half. Let him learn everything, including how to protect himself. His last game action was his HS team. There’s no need to risk a young and thin qb right now missing a blitz and getting blown up and we’d have to take any qb keeps/runs out of the playbook.

 

[jeff1vol]

George Maclntyre is trending up . A lot of unknowns here beig a true freshman .
( positives ) probably the best athlete of the three , as good or better arm as the other two , definitely the highest ceiling of the three . He comes from a football family , so the pedigree is there .
( negatives ) he is bone thin and needs to gain about 25 pounds and he has no experience at the college level .
Three weeks from today , can't get here fast enough.

If Gmac is the best chance to win... PLAY HIM! All this "hes too small" excuse is ********! I can name 100 QB's that started at p5 level smaller than him!! If he gets hurt we have 2 backups. Good grief.

 

[BAVol]

His junior year they had a terrible coach. They fired him, and gmacs senior year they only lost to great teams full of sec talent.

Any Tennessee high school team with a legitimate SEC quarterback should be able to get to .500 regardless of what is around him. They lost 4 games where they gave up 24 or less.

if you’re going to ding a guy for only winning 2 games his junior year you’ve got to give him credit for winning 9 his senior year.

As was said above the first time head coach in above his head was the problem. The inability of him and his OC to have a half a braincell about game management was the issue. When you’re small, thin at depth and 2 platooning on the lines you can’t go run the fun and gun hurry up all game. Sometimes you have to run the ball a little to give the D a breather.

GMac is a good kid from a good family. He’ll be fine. I’m certainly rooting for him. But most importantly I’m rooting for the Vols to win. Can’t sweat over hypotheticals. I’m going to enjoy the season we have and not look ahead too much.

 

[jasonvol18]

If Gmac is the best chance to win... PLAY HIM! All this "hes too small" excuse is ********! I can name 100 QB's that started at p5 level smaller than him!! If he gets hurt we have 2 backups. Good grief.

I Don't believe he is if he's running with the 3's and Heupel said reps aren't Changing. The ones wanting GMac to start will probably be disappointed. And I really hope he doesn't have to, he's got a great career ahead of him. How many of those guys you mentioned play in the SEC or Big 10 and are True Freshman? That's a serious Question, I can't think of any. I know for a fact none are on our schedule. There may be some, but I haven't seen them. Sometimes you have to do it out of necessity, but no way it's something a HC just prefers. Good thing is, we don't have to like when Ainge and Bray had to start. But both were 210+.

 

[jeff1vol]

I Don't believe he is if he's running with the 3's and Heupel said reps aren't Changing. The ones wanting GMac to start will probably be disappointed. How many of those guys play in the SEC or Big 10 and are True Freshman? That's a serious Question, I can't think of any. I know for a fact none are on our schedule. There may be some, but I haven't seen them. Sometimes you have to do it out of necessity, but no way it's something a HC just prefers. Good thing is, we don't have to like when Ainge Bray had to start.

I dont disagree. My opinion is based on the premise that he actually is the one giving us the best chance to win.