Spring Camp has officially arrived in Knoxville as the Tennessee Volunteers held their first team practice Monday morning.
With over 40 new players, an almost entirely new defensive staff, and several other personnel additions, the 2026 iteration of the Vols finally had the opportunity to see their product in action together this morning.
“Good effort and good energy,” head coach Josh Heupel said following today’s practice. “[I’m] excited about the effort and attitude… and the strength gains, the speed gains and the size that they added during the course of our winter offseason.”
Since hiring new Director of Football Sports Performance, Derek Owings in January, Heupel has seen the work and results of his players under the strength training guidance of Owings.
“It's been a great winter as far as the development of our [players’] bodies,” Heupel said.
Heupel additionally credited Owings for his coaching style that has had an effect on the mental side of player preparation, citing, “the accountability and everything that you're doing every single day,” that Owings has helped players improve upon.
After the delayed departure of former quarterback Joey Aguilar to the NFL Draft, Tennessee now finds itself in the midst of a quarterback battle between returning redshirt freshman George McIntyre, true freshman Faizon Brandon and Colorado transfer Ryan Staub.
With no clear decision made yet on who will get the starting job come fall, Heupel looks to see the development and maturation of his young QB room during spring camp.
“It is open,” Heupel said of the starting slot. “Don't expect ‘A guy’ to be named here during the course of spring ball.”
Speaking on his quarterback room’s progress, the coach said that his players are, “Quick minded and grasp what we're doing as we give them the playbook.”
Heupel additionally shared confidence in his players’ abilities to throw accurately but that “fundamentally…there's still [room to grow].”
Speaking specifically on true freshman QB addition Brandon, Heupel stressed the importance of staying patient and present during the trying times of navigating through the depth chart.
“You got to stay diligent, you got to stay in the fight mentally, physically and emotionally to gain everything that you can out of every rep every day,” Heupel said on his advice to young players like Brandon.