FORECAST: ESPN PREDICTS George MacIntyre as Tennessee Football’s QB1 over 5-star Faizon Brandon

Locked On Vols - Daily Podcast On Tennessee Volunteers Football & Basketball

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4.8 • 797 Ratings

🗓️ 23 January 2026

⏱️ 34 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The episode spotlights ESPN’s quarterback predictions, highlighting George MacIntyre as the predicted starter for the Vols, while examining key SEC rival matchups and transfer portal strategies. Insights include how Amare Campbell’s leadership will steady the linebacker corps, Coleman’s top-10 draft potential, and Lane’s rising ceiling in the secondary. Is this blend of experienced talent and new coaching the formula Tennessee needs to reclaim SEC glory? Tennessee Volunteers shake up their defense with four high-impact transfers from Penn State. Can Jim Knowles and his players reignite Rocky Top’s defensive dominance in 2026? Eric Cain and Zach Seyko break down the arrivals of pass-rushing phenom Chaz Coleman, defensive tackle Xavier Gilliam, linebacker Amare Campbell, and versatile safety Dejuan Lane—analyzing how familiarity with Knowles and their position coaches could supercharge Tennessee’s unit.

Transcript

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0:00.0	George McIntyre will be Tennessee starting quarterback in 2026. At least one major publication declared that earlier this week.
0:12.3	You are locked on balls, your daily podcast on the Tennessee Volunteers. Part of the Locked on Podcast Network, your team every day what is up everybody happy friday morning and welcome into the unofficial start to your weekend i know some weather is going to be coming into town here in knoxville east and to see really the south in general so hopefully everybody is prepared and ready to roll and thoughts and prayers uh to warm and fun-filled weekend watching sports and hopefully playing in the snow.
0:42.7	I mean, if it's going to be a winter weather advisory and all that, don't give me any of this freezing rain.
0:47.7	Don't get me any of this ice.
0:49.4	If it's going to do it, give me some snow, all right?
0:51.5	Make it worth it.
0:52.7	And we can at least go out there and those with snowballs or two. This is Lockdown Falls. I'm your host, Eric Kay, and I appreciate you guys for being here and making us a part of your morning routine, your first watch, your first listen, each and every single day. We are a part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, the number one sports podcasting network available. Today's show is going to be a big one. We're going to bring on Zach Saco from Lockdown Nitty Lions.
1:13.6	He's going to talk about the four defensive transfers from Penn State to Tennessee and what Tennessee is getting in those players.
1:20.6	Excited about that conversation. That's coming up here in segment numbers two and three.
1:24.6	But first, the starting quarterback prediction time for all SEC teams from ESPN.
1:30.8	That's coming up right now. And of course, Everydayers can do the show without you.
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1:44.3	So having a whole lot of fun over there.
1:46.0	Go join the Everydayer Club if you want more Lockdown Balls content.
1:49.9	All right.
1:50.1	So ESPN predicts that George McIntyre is going to be the starting quarterback for the University of Tennessee.
1:56.6	It's not really a scathing hot take.
1:59.8	It's not really going on a limb because what we know right now is as we record this podcast
2:05.2	right now, Joey Aguilar is not in the picture.
2:08.5	He has a preliminary injunction hearing for February the 10th.
2:11.9	And based on everything that's happening in college athletics right now, I mean,
	...

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