Tennessee football has three, maybe four, options for its starting quarterback next season. If current starter Joey Aguilar gets eligibility, that’d be the most seamless move. That doesn’t seem too likely, though, with limited time before the Vols are going to be forced to look elsewhere.
The three likely choices are returning redshirt freshman George MacIntyre, incoming five-star true freshman Faizon Brandon or dipping into the transfer portal. Of those three options, the highest ceiling for the 2026 season would likely be grabbing an experienced transfer.
With plenty of big names already announcing they’ll be on the market, fans are beginning to draw connections between Tennessee and those popular names. However, one fan has circled an under-the-radar option in Harvard’s Jaden Craig. Former Vols quarterback Jarrett Guarantano said he’d approve of that move.
“I think it would be an A+ move,” Guarantano wrote on X. “Really good player and person. Allows a chance for young (QBs) to learn for one season and prepare to get ready for 2027.”
I think it would be an A+ move. Really good player and person. Allows a chance for younger Qs to learn for one season and prepare to get ready for 2027. https://t.co/99kJM6hr54
— Jarrett Guarantano (@JayGuarantano) December 24, 2025
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Craig just completed his fourth season at Harvard and third as a starter. In 2023, he played in seven games and started in three. In 2024, he broke onto the scene as a Phil Steele All-Ivy League Second Team member. He threw for 2,430 yards, 23 touchdowns and just three interceptions that year.
This past season, the 2025 campaign, he put up even bigger numbers. He finished with 2,869 yards, 25 touchdowns and seven interceptions. The Crimson finished the year 9-2 after a 9-0 start to the season.
As Guarantano alluded to, Craig will be out of eligibility following the 2026 season. This would be the ideal situation for Tennessee, in which it could plug-and-play a transfer this year to give MacIntyre and Brandon another year to develop. Then, UT would have the option between the pair of highly recruited prospects going forward.
