Faizon Brandon won Tennessee football's quarterback competition but the season opener against FCS foe Furman at Neyland Stadium could offer a chance for the Vols to see what sophomore backup George MacIntyre has to offer in real game action.
UT coach Josh Heupel, who hasn't been afraid to make quarterback changes early in the season before, wasn't ready to disclose much about his plan for the two young signal callers with gameday approaching.
"You'll find out on Saturday," he said Aug. 31 when asked about how he'd manage the quarterbacks when the No. 18 Vols play Furman (1-0) on Sept. 5 (3:30 p.m. ET, SEC Network+/ESPN+).
Brandon, a five-star recruit in his first season of college football, was named the Vols starter on Aug. 24. He beat out MacIntyre
to become just the 14th true freshman starting quarterback in UT history.
Heupel said Brandon had earned the right to start the opener but bigger tests looms on the horizon. The Vols will play at Georgia Tech on Sept. 12, then host Kennesaw State (Sept. 19) and Texas (Sept. 26) to open SEC play.
Brandon will have to protect his starting job as the season progresses and competition levels up. And Heupel expects MacIntyre to stay ready in case Brandon relinquishes the job in the meantime.
"He understands that he’s going to get an opportunity at some point and better be prepared when the opportunity comes.”
Heupel has been pleased with how MacIntyre's stayed engaged to film study, practice and game preparations.
“(He was) disappointed at first. If you’re not that, then we’ve got a real problem," Heupel said. "But he’s been great in the quarterback room, great on the practice field, great energy. He was in here today with everybody, continuing to grow and work and compete."
Stephen Thompson covers Tennessee Volunteers men's basketball. Email him at stephen.thompson@knoxnews.com and follow him on X @stephenethom.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: How much will Faizon Brandon, George MacIntyre play for Tennessee vs Furman?
