Tennessee blurs QB who threw INT in football practice video: Watch it here

Clearly, the Vols aren’t interested in any unsolicited feedback from fans or critics about the state of the team’s ongoing quarterback competition.

Tennessee is still in the middle of what looks like a three-man competition for the starting quarterback position, although insiders believe Joey Aguilar is the favorite to win that role.

Aguilar transferred to Tennessee this spring after the Vols’ starter last season, Nico Iamaleava, surprisingly transferred to UCLA, throwing the team’s quarterback depth chart into some sudden confusion.

Aguilar clearly has the most experience of anyone in the room, spending two seasons as the starter at Appalachian State, throwing for 3,003 yards and 23 touchdowns last year, but that production also included 14 interceptions.

Redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger and true freshman George MacIntyre are the Vols’ other two options, both getting extended looks in the team’s spring football scrimmage after Iamaleava’s exit.

Both of Tennessee’s two younger quarterbacks come with considerable promise.

Merklinger was originally a consensus four-star prospect back during the 2024 recruiting cycle and had a good showing in the Volunteers’ spring game earlier this year.

MacIntyre was considered the No. 15 overall quarterback in the 2025 recruiting class, according to an average of the four national recruiting services.

Merklinger is thought to be the No. 2 on the current depth chart and MacIntyre in third place behind presumptive favorite Aguilar.

Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel has emphasised that the position will be open to competition leading up to the season.

“When they got back in the summer, they understood this isn’t something that’s going to be decided in June,” Heupel said.

“It’s not going to be decided in July. Got to go earn it and take it during the course of training camp.”

So did the Vols blur out Aguilar throwing another interception, to protect him from what has been an offseason talking point about the quarterback’s perceived weakness?

Or did they censor one of their two up and coming quarterback talents? Either way, the team clearly wants to keep it a mystery while they can.

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