No experience? No problem for Vols coaches
Another year has come and gone, with Tennessee football head coach Josh Heupel now entering his sixth season with the team.
With this new season, along with a new wave of practices beginning over the span of the week, Heupel has finally gotten the opportunity to see his quarterback room in action.
As it usually is, the eyes will be on the quarterback to see what steps will be taken, yet the question entering this season seems to remain: Who will that quarterback be who takes the first snap of the season for Tennessee?
The competition begins as open as it can be, three possible options all lie in front of the former-quarterback, Heuepel.
A former four-star recruit out of high school who spent his last season with the Vols, George MacIntyre is the first of the bunch and has been tabbed as the very early favorite by media across the country.
But, at 6-foot-6 and a spindly 202 pounds, there's a concern about whether he can survive in the physical world of SEC football.
Along with MacIntyre is true-freshman Faizon Brandon, a five-star recruit out of North Carolina. Brandon brings uncertainty due to his lack of prior experience, but he has the potential to grow into a player to watch.
Finally, Colorado-transfer Ryan Staub joined the team late in the offseason transfer portal window as the third quarterback in the room.
"We've had a couple of those battles; you guys know that we always communicate with those guys openly, transparently. We communicate with those guys together. Don't expect a guy to be named here during the course of spring ball.”
In two of the three options, the Vols are faced with a quarterback who will possibly have little to no game-time experience under their belt, or at least not any worth mentioning.
MacIntyre has just nine attempts accumulated throughout his young career, which came through two games against ETSU and New Mexico State.
"Last year, it was a blessing for me to be in the quarterback battle," MacIntyre said. "I saw the things you need to do, which helped a lot.
"I've grown a lot since I've gotten here. I felt like I was drinking from a fire hose last spring. This year I understand the ins and outs of the protections and what goes into the scheme."
“George is a great leader,” Staub said. “George has all the intangibles. He’s tall, he’s got a strong arm, he’s very accurate, he’s decisive, and quick. Great guy to learn from. He’s competitive. He’s a great addition to the room.”
Staub continued to be vocal in the room and the growth from the young quarterbacks, including the true freshman Brandon.
“Faizon, I mean, wow, kind of a freak of nature,” Staub said. “He’s got raw ability, raw arm strength, and he’s smart. He’s learning this offense, and it’s not easy. I’ve learned a lot of offenses in my time, and it’s not easy.”
Staub, according to Heupel, will also get the chance during the spring to be looked at as the starter. The rising junior appeared in four games last season. He tallied 427 total yards in the air with three touchdowns and four interceptions.
"You're patient in understanding that just like every player inside your program, there is going to be growth, there is going to be mistakes,” Heupel said. “What you want to see is them not making the same mistake twice. Constant growth in what they're doing and how they're controlling things at the quarterback position. The patience part, that's how that correlates. You have to push them in what they are doing on the offensive side of the football.”
Of course, there is an emergency option available -- just in case. If Heupel and his staff aren't sold on any of the three being ready, scouring the country to find a grad transfer who's not happy with his situation after spring practice would be a possibility.