Tennessee's quarterbacks detailed after first spring scrimmage

Tennessee completed its first scrimmage during spring football on Thursday. The Vols are looking to replace quarterback Joey Aguilar following the 2025 season.

Tennessee has a starting quarterback competition between early enrollee freshman Faizon Brandon, redshirt freshman George MacIntyre and redshirt junior transfer Ryan Staub.

Following Thursday's scrimmage, sixth-year head coach Josh Heupel discussed Tennessee's quarterbacks. Everything he said is listed below.

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On his encouragement of quarterbacks after first spring scrimmage

"From play-to-play, you have to learn how to play the next one. From a half of football to the next half, and from day-to-day. You have to be able to reset and go play the next play or next day. It is a marathon. You also have to sprint that marathon to become as good as you can as fast as you can, but I think being able to reset, recharge and be able to go play the next play or the next day is really important. With all of the learning that's taking place around you – from offensive line, running backs, tight ends, receivers, all of that – it applies a different pressure at the quarterbacks position as guys are learning to target the right guys in pass protection, whatever that might be. All of those adverse situations are also helping you prepare for what it can be in the fall and how to play smart football. Both of those guys (George MacIntyre and Faizon Brandon) and (Ryan Staub), they've done good job growing through seven days. There will be a couple things to learn from today, but there were a lot of real positives too."

On George MacIntyre's ability to process with one year in Tennessee's program

"I think even Day 1 or 2 of spring ball, from where he was at the end of the season, you can see the steps that he's taken. So, really pleased with that. Faizon (Brandon) has done the same thing in learning the offense. Ryan (Staub), those guys continue to progress. There's some fundamental things that they have to continue to grow in, but pleased with that entire group and how they functioned and operated the first seven days."

On Faizon Brandon's operation of Tennessee's offense in Thursday's scrimmage

"There were a couple mechanical things, just how you're calling it in the huddle or operation-wise, coming off of a penalty or some of those things, that as you get more experience become ingrained in you. But all-in-all, I thought all three of the quarterbacks, including Faizon, did a really good job on that side of it."

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This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Vols' quarterbacks detailed after first spring football scrimmage