Paul Finebaum evaluates chances Tennessee stands pat with current quarterback room

Tennessee wasn’t expecting to reassess where they are at quarterback at this time last week. However, with the exit of Nico Iamaleava, the Volunteers are now doing so coming out of the spring and ahead of the next window of the portal.

Paul Finebaum assessed whether or not that Tennessee will stay with one of Jake Merklinger or George MacIntyre or go looking for another QB in the NCAA Transfer Portal during ‘McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning’ on Monday. He isn’t yet certain because that pair of quarterbacks for the Vols are good but he also thinks having a third to consider wouldn’t be a bad thing either to add to this new-look depth chart at the position.

“Yeah, I mean, listen, I think you’ve got two good quarterbacks,” said Finebaum. “Certainly, MacIntyre, the freshman? Everybody raved about him – but, then again, everybody raves about every high-school quarterback these days.”

“So, I don’t know. I mean, there may be a player out there that they’ll take a look at and, certainly, it’s not a bad idea to have a, to have a third option as opposed to a, a freshman who has never played and, and one who has only played sparingly. But, I think, I mean, we’re talking about a good operation. I mean, these are, these are not the novices at the offense, as you pointed out.”

Merklinger and MacIntyre have transitioned quickly from backups to potential starters for the team. That’s with neither having much, if any, experience as Merklinger is a redshirt freshman who made two appearances as a reserve last fall while MacIntyre is a four-star signee entering his first season in college.

With that, Rocky Top is also going to have an eye on any activity of note in the portal from its opening on Wednesday. Other quarterbacks are going to come available across the country who could at the very least compete to be or at the very most end up being the starter in Knoxville.

Tennessee, despite this issue, has options still in front of them as far as their starting quarterback for next fall. They just won’t have a lot of time to decide among them, whether in this portal window or due to this duo’s inexperience, which leaves it up to Josh Heupel to determine what’s best from here.

“It’s a big deal but it’s not as big a deal if Heupel can get everything organized pretty quickly here,” said Finebaum. “And that, that is the ultimate challenge. There’s just not much time left.”