The Tennessee Volunteers received unfortunate news on Friday after quarterback Joey Aguilar was denied eligibility for the 2026 season. Although Aguilar’s court proceedings were held in Knoxville, it was not enough to sway a Tennessee state judge, who rejected his preliminary injunction to play for the Vols this season.
Aguilar’s attorney believed he should have been granted an additional year of eligibility based on playing junior college football for two seasons. What makes this decision controversial is that there was a similar case involving former Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, who was granted an additional season in 2025 after winning a court case based on his time at a junior college.
However, Tennessee will move forward without Aguilar in 2026, meaning it will start a new quarterback for the fifth time in five seasons. Here are the two most likely candidates vying for that starting spot:
George MacIntyre
George MacIntyre is a former five-star recruit and the most likely candidate to start at Tennessee in 2026. Last season, MacIntyre played limited snaps, appearing in two games for the Vols against New Mexico State and ETSU.
Although he had only nine passing attempts, MacIntyre still posted a 77.8% completion rate for 69 yards. Even with a limited sample size, there is a belief that MacIntyre could develop into a star quarterback for the Vols in the near future.
One of the best tools in MacIntyre’s arsenal is his arm strength. In his high school highlight reels, there were multiple examples of him fitting passes into tight windows more than 40 yards downfield. On one play, he threw a ball from near his own 15-yard line all the way to the opponent’s 30-yard line. He has more than enough arm strength to find success in the SEC.
MacIntyre also showed several examples of escaping the pocket and making throws on the run. He has the confidence to wait for plays to develop before getting rid of the ball, which ultimately leads to additional yardage. He is also a serviceable runner for a quarterback. He will not over-rely on running the ball, but he can gain yards if needed.
However, on some plays, he appears too comfortable in the pocket, taking a couple of hits in the process. This might not be as much of a concern for quarterbacks with stockier builds, but MacIntyre is 6-foot-6 and 195 pounds, so this could become an issue if he does not add adequate weight.
On the bright side, Tennessee recently hired former Indiana strength and conditioning coach Derek Owings, who helped turn a team full of three-star recruits into national champions last season. Former star quarterback Tyler Bray came to Tennessee with a similar build in 2010, standing about 6-6 and weighing 185 pounds, but he bulked up to 232 pounds by the time he reached the NFL Combine. There is reasonable hope MacIntyre could gain an additional 15 to 20 pounds this offseason.
Faizon Brandon
Five-star quarterback Faizon Brandon was the crown jewel of the Volunteers’ 2026 recruiting class and should not be underestimated as a potential starter for the Vols next season. 247Sports rated Brandon as the No. 3 player in the country, and he has the potential to be a star for Tennessee. Considering Aguilar’s departure, Brandon could be thrown into the fire sooner than expected.
During his time in high school, the North Carolina native was named Gatorade Player of the Year and MaxPreps Player of the Year in 2024, and he led his team to back-to-back state championship wins in 2024 and 2025. During his senior season, he suffered a thumb injury in his first game but returned in the playoffs and went 6-0.
That same season, Brandon completed 65.3% of his passes for 1,116 yards with 11 touchdowns and one interception. He also rushed for 233 yards and three touchdowns while averaging 7.3 yards per attempt.
During his junior season in 2024, Brandon led his team to a perfect 16-0 record and a state championship. That year, he completed 77.1% of his throws for 2,814 yards and 35 touchdowns with only two interceptions. Additionally, he averaged 8.0 yards per carry, rushing for 625 yards and nine touchdowns.
What makes Brandon an intriguing prospect is his efficiency. In his three seasons as a starter, he threw only six interceptions and completed 422 of 592 passes (71.3%). On film, it is evident he can fit passes into tight windows. Although it might not always be ideal, he is capable of fitting the ball into double coverage.
As a thrower, Brandon appears to have all the tools a coach would want: he is comfortable in the pocket, can connect on deep balls, and showcases elite accuracy. There were several plays in which Brandon threw wide receivers open, even though they appeared covered. He also showed an ability to time his throws so receivers could run after the catch.
As a runner, Brandon is capable of breaking big runs if necessary and appears to have legitimate speed. He is also shifty enough to make defenders miss, but all of these traits are icing on the cake. Brandon’s bread and butter is being an elite passer, and if he can replicate the success he had in high school, he can become a star in the SEC.
Overview
Although Tennessee’s quarterback race likely favors MacIntyre due to his experience, do not be surprised if Brandon gets meaningful reps and potentially becomes the full-time starter. The best part for the Vols is that healthy competition can push both young quarterbacks to improve.
It is unclear who will be the starter in 2026, but it is clear that both quarterbacks can be great with the right development.
