KNOXVILLE — Tennessee has returned a lot of quarterback experience each spring way more often than not under sixth-year coach Josh Heupel.
Hendon Hooker in 2022. Joe Milton in 2023. Even Nico Iamaleava last year before Iamaleava bolted for UCLA.
This spring was different, as redshirt freshman George MacIntyre, early enrollee Faizon Brandon and redshirt junior and Colorado transfer Ryan Staub competed for 15 practices that culminated with Saturday afternoon’s Orange & White game before an estimated 48,000 fans inside Neyland Stadium. So did Heupel check all the boxes he wanted to at that position?
“We didn’t accomplish everything, but you never accomplish everything,” Heupel said. “I do love the growth from that group, and I’ve loved the way that they competed with themselves and with each other. I’ve loved the way they’ve grown every single day. Each of them had a day where it was maybe a little bit below what they have shown and their expectations, too, but they responded and came back the next day and were a lot better.
“There is a lot that is positive, and there is a lot that they and we have to work on as a football team, but I like the work they’ve put in and where they are. We’ve got to continue to grow. We’ve got four weeks here before the break from school, and then we’ll get back for our summer schedule and routine they have to go through to continue to grow.”