Radarious Jackson and George MacIntyre waited years to play together.
The two Tennessee football players spent July 28 signing autographs and taking photos with fans at Dick's House of Sport at West Town Mall.
Their connection far predates their time here, though. MacIntyre, a redshirt freshman quarterback, and Jackson, a sophomore receiver, first crossed paths in high school.
"We met in high school through the same 7-on-7 program," MacIntyre told Knox News. "I never actually got on a team with him, unfortunately, but we were in the same system for a while."
Years later, that history has developed into a close friendship now that the two are finally teammates.
"George, that's my dog," Jackson said. "I was introduced to George, and he was supposed
to be my quarterback. We never really got to play a real game together during that time. But once Tennessee became a top prospect on my list, George started recruiting me hard. Hopefully, it'll be the best receiver-quarterback duo ever."
MacIntyre, the No. 3 player in the state from Brentwood Academy in Nashville, committed to Tennessee on Jan. 22, 2024, and Jackson, a four-star recruit from Sheffield in Memphis, followed that April. MacIntyre said the coaching staff leaned on him almost immediately to reel Jackson in.
"As soon as I committed here, the coaches made it a point to me that we really wanted Radarious," MacIntyre said. "We wanted to lock down the in-state guys early. I think he committed shortly after I did, and we just hit it off from there."
MacIntyre was third on the depth chart in 2025 and played in two games, completing 7-of-9 passes for 69 yards.
He will be chasing the starting quarterback job against five-star freshman Faizon Brandon, a battle that will continue to play out until Week 1.
Jackson will be looking for playing time in a packed receiver room that features returning starters Braylon Staley, the 2025 SEC Freshman of the Year, and Mike Matthews, with five-star freshman TK Keys in the mix.
A collarbone injury suffered in the Sept. 13 overtime loss to Georgia sidelined Jackson for more than a month. He returned in late October and finished the season with nine catches for 90 yards across nine games.
That modest line led him to spend the offseason being honest about where he fell short.
"Staying locked in on the playbook," Jackson said. "Coming in as a freshman, learning the plays is hard. I also worked a lot on my route running, because I felt like that was something I lacked last year. I didn't really get to showcase what I could do last year. This year, I've got a chip on my shoulder and I'm ready to show what I can really do."
Both MacIntyre and Jackson have seen the support from fans, with preseason practices starting Aug. 5.
"We've got the best fans in the country, and they show it year-round," MacIntyre said. "This is my third signing like this, and all three times have been great. A lot of people showing up. You can tell it means a lot to them, and we're trying to do anything we can to make them feel at home."
"It's crazy love, honestly," Jackson said. "The fans show crazy support. They might not even know you, but they still show that love and support. I'm really grateful to have a fan base like that."
Tennessee opens the season Sept. 5 (3:30 p.m.) against Furman at Neyland Stadium.
"It's really cool," MacIntyre said. "Everything we've ever dreamed about and worked for is right in front of us, and it's our turn to go take it."
Xavier Burton is a sports intern for Knox News. Email: Xavier.burton@knoxnews.com
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: George MacIntyre, Radarious Jackson on friendship, Tennessee football
