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Tennessee Vols could soon get good recruiting news because of Nick Saban's retirement

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Zach Ragan | Last updated Jan 11, 2024 9:00 AM ET

Nick Saban's sudden retirement on Wednesday could pave the way for some good recruiting news for the Tennessee Vols.

Alabama and Tennessee are the two programs still in the mix to land a commitment from 2025 five-star quarterback George MacIntyre.

LSU was also previously in the mix, but 2025 five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood's recent commitment to the Tigers essentially made this a two-team race for MacIntyre.

With Saban out of the picture at Alabama, it leaves Tennessee as the only logical choice for MacIntyre (the young five-star quarterback previously cited his relationship with Saban as one of the main reasons he's considering the Crimson Tide).

Shortly after Saban announced his retirement, 247Sports director of recruiting Steve Wiltong placed a prediction for MacIntyre to Tennessee.

MacIntyre, 6-foot-5/182 lbs from Brentwood, TN, is rated by 247Sports as the No. 2 quarterback in the nation and the No. 1 overall player in the state of Tennessee.

Now, it's not like MacIntyre will be choosing Tennessee by default just because Saban retired. The Vols were already viewed as the favorites for the talented quarterback.

But anytime Nick Saban and Alabama are in the picture, they're a legitimate threat to land a recruit. With Saban no longer at Alabama, it seems highly unlikely that MacIntyre will commit to the Crimson Tide over the Vols.

MacIntyre is expected to announce his commitment in either January or February. Saban's decision to retire could mean that MacIntyre's commitment comes sooner rather than later.

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

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