MacIntyre expected to start at Arkansas as Brandon deals with shoulder injury

Tennessee is expected to start George MacIntyre against Arkansas on Saturday as Faizon Brandon deals with a shoulder injury, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel. The reported change would give MacIntyre his first career start after he helped the Volunteers rally past Auburn.

Thamel’s October 6 report attributes the decision to sources and identifies Brandon’s injury as dating to the Texas game. Tennessee coach Josh Heupel had declined to announce a starter during Monday’s press conference, saying the team would work through the week before the public learned its decision Saturday.

The coach’s comments give direct context for the injury report. In Tennessee’s full official transcript, Heupel said Brandon’s injury had affected his performance and limited him early in the previous practice week. He also described Brandon taking mental reps and practicing his drops behind the pocket while working through those limitations.

MacIntyre entered the October 3 Auburn game on Tennessee’s final drive before halftime. Rocky Top Insider’s Ric Butler reports that he completed eight of 10 passes for 86 yards, with no touchdown passes or interceptions. Tennessee scored three touchdowns in the second half and won 24–14.

Butler also reports that Brandon had completed three of eight passes for no passing yards and one interception before the switch. Those figures describe the Auburn appearance, rather than a new medical determination about what Brandon can do against Arkansas.

Heupel praised MacIntyre’s contribution while emphasizing a broader need to improve the passing attack. Tennessee’s official preview says the coach wants the receivers more involved through the air after they continued contributing as blockers during the Auburn win. The reported quarterback change comes within that effort to produce more consistently in the passing game.