Big Orange Report August 27, 2026

 

That is a Wrap

The Big Orange football squad wrapped up the second and final scrimmage of pre-season practice on Saturday. As a precaution, the staff limited the work of several key players including senior running back DeSean Bishop. The battle for playing time behind Bishop is intense. Tulane transfer Javin Gordon has inched ahead of the younger backs, Daune Morris and Justin Baker but the competition will continue over the next two weeks.

The third wide receiver slot is also still very much undecided. Mike Matthews and Brylon Staley are set and good to go as both are on a national watchlist for the top pass catcher in the nation. Radarious Jackson, Travis Smith, Jr. and five-star freshman T.K. Keys have all had their moments in practice. Of course, all these guys will see the field in a rotation type setting this year. The same scenario applies to tight end because projected starter Ethan Davis has yet to go full speed at practice thus far. Desaahn Brame and transfer Trent Thomas are in the hunt along with Cole Harrison.

Announcement Coming?

The wait and watch game is on as the media and fans are discussing when Coach Heupel will announce his starting quarterback for the opening game. He has traditionally indicated the choice a week to 10 days prior to the kickoff of the season. At this writing, the majority of those who have been allowed to watch selected practice sessions believe that freshman Faizon Brandon is the leader coming around the far turn. Brandon was more efficient and on target in the second scrimmage. The quarterbacks were wearing no contact jerseys but the suggestions from observers indicate that his quickness and balance in the pocket demonstrated an ability to take off and scramble with the football if his receivers were covered. He was intercepted once by transfer safety T.J. Metcalf, a player who has been outstanding during the last two weeks on the practice field.

George MacIntyre is still in the competition but he struggled at times on Saturday. New starting safety Dejaun Lane, who replaced the injured Edrees Farooq, swiped a GMac pass and Tre Poteat dropped another pass that would have been a second interception. MacIntyre is apparently struggling some with his timing and holding the football too long before throwing it downfield. Frankly, it would be an upset of sorts now if GMac was named the starter but we still expect him to play in the opening game and maybe even the second contest of the season at Georgia Tech.

Heupel Remaining Positive

During his presser following the Saturday scrimmage, head coach Josh Heupel, for the most part, was positive about the performances on both sides of the football. He is usually very generic and does not elect to single out certain players for successes or failures.

"Holistically, as a football team, they've trained, they've competed and they've practiced hard," Heupel said. "I think we've grown tremendously throughout the course of training camp in our fundamentals, our technique, but we have two weeks left. We need to continue to grow."

Waiting for the Return

The offensive staff is still waiting for the full return of veteran guard Wendell Moe, Jr. The senior has been listed on some preseason All SEC teams and he is considered the glue that holds the blocking front together. He has a hand injury and frankly, Moe is a proven commodity that does not need to be involved in contact work at this point in his career.

For the second year in a row, Ethan Davis has been discussed as a difference maker at tight end but just as last season, he has not been practicing. The extent of his injury is unknown and the thoughts creep in that some guys are just injury prone and may never reach their full potential on the gridiron.

Of course, Vol fans are eager to see All American candidate Arion Carter in action. The NCAA suspended the senior for two games but Carter is healthy and chomping at the bit to go in the third game on the schedule. He can play all linebacker positions and also line up as an edge rusher in passing situations.

Vol Notes

Tennessee commitment David Gabriel Georges had a spectacular debut last week by rushing for 250 yards and three touchdowns against Brentwood Academy. The game was televised on ESPN2. DGG's team, Baylor School, win 38-20 and was their second victory over Brentwood in less than a year. Georges is the No. 2 rated running back in the country and is a top ten prospect across the recruiting services. 

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