Photo via Ryan Sylvia | RTI
Thursday morning marked practice No. 2 of Tennessee football’s fall camp slate as it gears up for the 2026 season under Josh Heupel. This also meant another look at the Vols’ quarterback battle between Faizon Brandon and George MacIntyre.
Without further ado, here’s my full notebook of observations from the four periods open to viewing for the media.
Offense
Let’s get right into routes on air. Here are the full results of throws we saw, split up by quarterbacks:
George MacIntyre
- Complete to Radarious Jackson (screen)
- Complete to TK Keys (screen)
- Complete to Braylon Staley (in route)
- Complete to TK Keys (screen)
- Complete to Radarious Jackson (in route)
- Incomplete to DaSaahn Brame (dropped on whip route)
- Complete to Drake Martinez (whip route)
- Complete to Joakim Dodson (out route)
- Complete to Mike Matthews (in route)
- Complete to Ben Petermann (in route)
- Complete to Travis Smith Jr. (in route)
- Complete to Luca Wolf (in route)
- Complete to Braylon Staley (in route)
- Complete to Mike Matthews (in route)
- Complete to Radarious Jackson (10-yard out route)
- Complete to DaSaahn Brame (in route)
- Complete to Joakim Dodson (curl)
- Complete to Mike Matthews (10-yard out route)
Faizon Brandon
- Complete to Travis Smith Jr. (screen)
- Incomplete to DaSaahn Brame (low throw on a screen, but should’ve been caught)
- Complete to Luca Wolf (screen)
- Complete to Trent Thomas (screen)
- Complete to Joakim Dodson (in route)
- Complete to Mike Matthews (screen)
- Incomplete to Travis Smith Jr. (dropped on in route)
- Complete to Luca Wolf (whip route)
- Complete to Braylon Staley (out route)
- Complete to Ian Duarte (out route)
- Complete to TK Keys (in route)
- Complete to Radarious Jackson (in route)
- Complete to DaSaahn Brame (in route)
- Complete to Joakim Dodson (in route)
- Complete to TK Keys (in route)
- Complete to Travis Smith Jr. (10-yard out route)
- Complete to Braylon Staley (curl)
- Complete to Ian Duarte (curl)
- Complete to TK Keys (10-yard out route)
Ryan Staub
- Complete to Deon Hardin (screen)
- Complete to Cole Harrison (screen)
- Complete to Tyreek King (in route)
- Complete to Nathan Roberts (screen)
- Complete to Cole Harrison (whip route)
- Complete to Tyreek King (out route)
- Complete to Deon Hardin (in route)
- Complete to Deon Hardin (in route)
- Complete to Cole Harrison (in route)
- Complete to Tyreek King (in route)
- Complete to Luke Thompson (in route)
- Incomplete to Deon Hardin (missed high on 10-yard out route)
- Complete to Tyreek King (curl)
- Complete to Nathan Roberts (10-yard out route)
Mason Phillips
- Complete to JaColby Cooper (screen)
- Incomplete to Drake Martinez (dropped screen)
- Complete to Ian Duarte (in route)
- Complete to Ben Petermann (screen)
- Complete to Travis Smith Jr. (in route)
- Complete to Trent Thomas (whip route)
- Complete to Lane Cope (out route)
- Complete to Nathan Roberts (in route)
- Complete to Ian Duarte (in route)
- Complete to Nathan Roberts (in route)
- Complete to Ben Petermann (10-yard out route)
QB Takeaways
Again, this competition isn’t going to be decided by who was more accurate during routes on air at the beginning of practice. However, today, both Faizon Brandon and George MacIntyre were pretty comparable in accuracy. Yesterday, MacIntyre looked a lot sharper, but Brandon bounced back with few mistakes this morning. His worst throw was left low to DaSaahn Brame, but it probably still should’ve been caught.
Watching Brandon and MacIntyre compared to Ryan Staub and Mason Phillips shows why those two are the frontrunners, though. Ball comes out so much quicker and with much more zip. I’d say Brandon has the more dynamic arm, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s a better quarterback.
Other Offensive Notes
Watched a bit of tight ends today. After a lot of work in the pass game yesterday, Alec Abeln seemed more focused on the blocking piece to start today. No Ethan Davis out there, though, which meant DaSaahn Brame and Cole Harrison seemed in charge of the room from a player perspective. I still think Harrison has developed really nicely and could be a factor this season given he fits more of an all-around tight end mold that UT seems to have more trust in than pure pass catchers or blockers.
On the offensive line, David Sanders carries himself like a senior, not a sophomore. He was coaching up five-star freshman Gabriel Osenda to the side. Beating a dead horse here, but also just looks so much bigger and stronger compared to last year. You’d never know there were size and weight questions just a year ago.
Tough to judge receivers after they started with some work inside, then came out for routes on air. TK Keys is still supposed to be a tad limited today, but you wouldn’t be able to tell in routes on air. He’s moving well and didn’t have any issues catching.
More From RTI: WATCH: Tennessee Football Practice Highlights – Fall Camp Day 2
Defense
Secondary was split into safeties and cornerbacks today. Players working with the safeties were TJ Metcalf, Steele Katina, Jowell Combay, Dejuan Lane, Sidney Walton, Edrees Farooq, Tevis Metcalf, Qua Moss and Jamyan Theodore. Cornerbacks were Tim Merritt, Isaiah Hardge, Kayin Lee, Tre Poteat, Zay Anderson, Jackson Mathews and Javonte Smith.
Ty Redmond was not practicing again. Dylan Lewis also seemed to be limited in what he was doing. Didn’t get eyes on Joel Wyatt, but I could’ve missed him. Seemed to be working with corners yesterday, which is kind of surprising given his size, but says a lot about his athleticism.
I like how the linebackers were split up when I was watching. They were paired up, and it was typically an older guy with a younger player. Arion Carter was with Jaedon Harmon, Edwin Spillman was with Brayden Rouse, Amare Campbell was with Jadon Perlotte and Jeremiah Telander was with TJ White. William Inge would then float around and give pointers as he saw fit on top of the vets helping the younger pieces.
Still like what I’m seeing from Daevin Hobbs and Nathan Robinson on the interior of the defensive line. Seem like leaders in the room taking the first reps a lot of the time.
Availabilities
Red Non-Contact Jerseys
- WR Jack-Henry Jakobik
- DL Isaiah Campbell
- DL Breeze Carter
- DL Carson Gentle
Not in Attendance
- TE Ethan Davis
- DB Ty Redmond
- DB Jadais Richard (season-ending injury)
Limited
- WR TK Keys (according to Heupel and Keys yesterday, but seemed fully active in our viewing portion)
- DB Dylan Lewis
