Who Starts the first game against Syracuse August 31st 2025?

Who starts the First Game this year?

  • Jake Merklinger

    Votes: 199 59.2%

  • George MacIntyre

    Votes: 18 5.4%

  • Another Vol

    Votes: 2 0.6%

  • Transfer Portal Quarterback

    Votes: 117 34.8%
  • Total voters
    336
#26
#26
SpaceCoastVol said:
Why do some of ya'll think we need a portal QB? There was a lot of love for both Merk and McIntyre when they committed here, and now ya'll are acting like they are walk-ons. We have 2 good QBs. Let's fill other needs at this point.

Man this poll is pathetic. If I were those two guys and we go spend a bunch of coin on somebody else, I would bolt at the first opportunity.
Click to expand...
The plan would have not changed very much for either of them. Maybe a good veteran enters the portal after all of this and we buy a one year guy. Merklinger and GMAC still develop a year just like the original plan. I think that would be best case scenario. If no one enters, find a warm body and let the two youngsters battle it out.
 
#28
#28
SpaceCoastVol said:
Why do some of ya'll think we need a portal QB? There was a lot of love for both Merk and McIntyre when they committed here, and now ya'll are acting like they are walk-ons. We have 2 good QBs. Let's fill other needs at this point.

Man this poll is pathetic. If I were those two guys and we go spend a bunch of coin on somebody else, I would bolt at the first opportunity.
Click to expand...
Too much on this fragile fanbase to go into the season with two scholarship QBs. If a homerun isn’t itching to sign up, I say go for a high level mid-major or FCS candidate and only guarantee a chance to compete.
 
#30
#30
We will not make the playoffs or win the SEC with a freshman QB, unless we find a 1,500 yard running back somewhere. Huepel needs to find someone with a lot of game experience preferably a senior. The bar in the SEC gets higher every year as they suck up more of the high level talent via the NIL. Teams are getting stronger across the board. What worked last year will not work this year.
 
#33
#33
Oh I dont know...............lets have a Bake Sale and go buy us a QB
Im getting to where I really dont care. The GAME as we knew it is gone. Never to return.
UT aside, how can you blame a kid for going somewhere to sign for 4Mill.
This is the world we live in. NCAA is a joke and must be disbanned. Some rules need to be established with NIL money comes commitment for a smidgeon of saving this game. Either way, GBO!
 
#34
#34
SpaceCoastVol said:
Why do some of ya'll think we need a portal QB? There was a lot of love for both Merk and McIntyre when they committed here, and now ya'll are acting like they are walk-ons. We have 2 good QBs. Let's fill other needs at this point.

Man this poll is pathetic. If I were those two guys and we go spend a bunch of coin on somebody else, I would bolt at the first opportunity.
Click to expand...
Agree let's get a playmaker in here or a game breaker. Might be tough to get a quality lineman this late. Wonder who out there is overloaded with talent and someone may be looking for play me now.
 
#35
#35
Vols fan in Aggieland. It wasn’t too long ago a situation like this would have me pulling out next year’s schedule and wondering who Tennessee could beat. But watching TAMU screw up time after time has changed my perspective somewhat. I’m going to put my faith in CJH and his staff to make the right choice. In my opinion, the marker he laid down about no one being bigger than the program is good enough for me.
 
#36
#36
Tennessee has some $$ now . I think there is gonna be several QB’s that have 2 to 3 yrs experience that are not making $2million a yr, that will be very interested in coming to Tennessee and playing 1 season. This was the plan all along, Merklinger and George behind Nico . Maybe bring a Quality guy in to compete for job ! Gonna be some that will DEFINITELY BE INTERESTED !!!
 
#37
#37
We have two top 15/high 4-star/low 5 star QBs on the roster that we celebrated landing. You take a third to be the second string guy from the portal and roll with the best of the two studs you recruited. Merklinger is in his second year. We just went to the playoffs with a 2nd year guy that most people think didn't even play that well. Not sure why anyone thinks it's time to panic.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Volizona
#38
#38
It will be Jake. There isnt much of a chance that a QB coming from the portal can learn and execute Heupel's offense with just a fall practice under their belt. They will dip in the portal for injury protection at the QB position.
 
#39
#39
Volhoops said:
Agree let's get a playmaker in here or a game breaker. Might be tough to get a quality lineman this late. Wonder who out there is overloaded with talent and someone may be looking for play me now.
Click to expand...
One obstacle....the Heupel offense. It's a real adjustment for an offensive player to join an offense running at warp speed. It also doesn't give WRs playing time if you aren't a starter which might turn some off.

Since the league has figured his gimmick offense out, it might be time to go with a more conventional offense. May be why he's heading to the pistol? That would make it far more likely that a guy from the portal might actually help us in year 1. And since the portal is now far more important than recruiting, it's probably Heupels best shot at survival in this league.
 
#40
#40
How many true freshman QBs have gotten significant playing time over the years? Manning, Clausen, Ainge, Bray, Dobbs? Why are we panicking over the thought of a redshirt freshman playing this year? We played with a redshirt freshman last year who wasn’t perfect and we still won a lot of games
 
#42
#42
Stvol89 said:
I’m guessing they get a two year proven guy but make it a legit competition giving all three guys a chance to win the starting job. And next year we bring in faizon Brandon and start the process of making him the guy moving forward.
Click to expand...
In an ideal world we get Avery Johnson and his WR1 and he becomes a first round pick after 2 years and a RS So Mac and RS Fr Faizon battle it out in 2027. I always assumed we would go straight to Faizon too, but Mac showed some things Saturday that changed my mind a little bit on him
 
#43
#43
I don’t think they’ll hand the starting role to someone who has never started a college football game and has barely played in mop up duty. Maybe Merk takes over later but they’ll go with a proven starter from the portal imo.
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top