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ESPN college football insider makes bold and unique prediction for Tennessee Vols' starting quarterback battle

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Zach Ragan | Last updated May 21, 2025 3:59 PM ET

The Tennessee Vols, thanks to the departure of Nico Iamaleava earlier this offseason, are set to have a true quarterback competition this summer/fall.

UCLA transfer Joey Aguilar, redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger, and true freshman George MacIntyre will battle during fall camp for the starting job.

I think this is going to be an incredibly compelling battle. I truly have no idea who will emerge as the starter as each quarterback has an advantage in a certain area.

Aguilar is by far the most experienced of the three quarterbacks. Merklinger, however, has the most experience in Josh Heupel's offensive system. MacIntyre, meanwhile, is probably the most naturally talented of all three options.

It's anyone's guess as to who will win this battle.

ESPN's Chris Low, a longtime college football insider with deep connections to Tennessee, made his prediction for the Vols' quarterback situation this week during an appearance on 104.5 The Zone's 3HL.

Low thinks Tennessee will play two quarterbacks this fall.

"This is a very short window for a guy like Aguilar, or anybody, to come in and win a job," said Low. "So he (Aguilar) essentially just got on campus. A lot of guys on the team aren't on campus yet. So he's going to have June and July to get to know those guys, throw with them, and then preseason camp starts in August. Here's my prediction: Tennessee plays two quarterbacks this year in some way, shape, or form."

"I don't think they want to do that," added Low when asked if he thinks it will be a two quarterback system. "I just think it will play out that way, that they will play two different guys at quarterback."

I actually suggested earlier this month that Heupel should take this approach. We've seen so many times in college football where the second (or third) guy ends up being the best quarterback on the roster. Practice is important, but sometimes you really don't know who the best player is until they're playing under the lights. It was true of Hendon Hooker when he initially lost the job to Joe Milton in 2021. And it was true of Josh Dobbs in 2014 and 2015 at Tennessee. And, of course, there was the quarterback situation at Tennessee in 2004 between Erik Ainge and Brent Schaeffer.

Heupel would be wise to give at least two of these quarterbacks a legit shot in game action this fall, and then just roll with the one that plays the best.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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