'They say this kid has a real chance to be a really nice player' - Vols insider is hearing good things about one of Tennessee's QBs

There are a little over three weeks to go until the Tennessee Vols kick off the 2025 season against the Syracuse Orange, and we have no idea who the starting quarterback will be for UT in that game.

The Vols are still in the early stages of a three-man quarterback battle between UCLA transfer Joey Aguilar, redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger, and true freshman George MacIntyre.

Tennessee's quarterbacks -- specifically Aguilar and Merklinger -- have had an uneven fall camp so far. But it's still early, so there's nothing fans should too concerned about (at least for now).

Aguilar and Merklinger are considered the two favorites to win the job. MacIntyre, though, might be the most talented quarterback on the roster.

In fact, longtime Vols insider Tony Basilio said on his show on Monday that he's hearing from folks close to the program that MacIntyre has a "real chance to be a really nice player".

The biggest roadblock for MacIntyre -- when it comes to winning the starting job in fall camp -- is that he needs to continue to add some weight.

"My understanding right now is that the MacIntyre kid looks like a really, really, really nice player," said Basilio. "But he's not going to play. And I'm not here to start anything, but he's not going to play -- because we don't want to get him killed. When you look at him, that kid looks like (former NBA player) Manute Bol in a football uniform. They gotta get some weight on that kid."

"They say this kid has a real chance to be a really nice player," continued Basilio. "That's what I'm hearing."

MacIntyre told reporters last week before the start of fall camp that he's gained 16 lbs since arriving at Tennessee as an early enrollee.

"I've put on 16 pounds since I got here. I'm up to close to 200 now," said MacIntyre.

MacIntyre is a player that Vols head coach Josh Heupel loved during the recruiting process. While he may not be the guy to start the season, it wouldn't be a surprise if MacIntyre ends up being the guy by the end of it.