For the first time since 2023, Tennessee Football will have a representative at the Manning Passing Academy this summer. The event, led by VFL Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, and Archie Manning, will be celebrating its 30th year in production and will take place this week from Thursday to Sunday in Thibodaux, LA.
According to Volquest, Tennessee redshirt sophomore quarterback George MacIntyre will be in attendance for the event. It’s the first time that a Tennessee player has been there since 2023, with Joe Milton III there at the time.
The list is full of notable names that Tennessee fans have seen in the past, including Steve Angeli (Syracuse 2025), John Mateer (Oklahoma 2025), Gunner Stockton (Georgia 2025), and KaMario Taylor (Mississippi State 2025). The event also has a few names on it that Tennessee will see on the schedule this fall, including Texas QB Arch Manning and Georgia Tech QB Alberto Mendoza.
MacIntyre is currently entrenched in a starting quarterback battle with true freshman Faizon Brandon this offseason. With Joey Aguilar’s ineligible court ruling, combined with Tennessee’s inability to land a big name from the transfer portal, the Vols will likely turn to a freshman player with their starting role this fall.
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The battle began during spring camp, but head coach Josh Heupel had no intentions of naming a starter at the time. Instead, he’s allowing his players to soak in spring feedback over the summer to come back and continue competing during fall camp in August. Tennessee did land Colorado transfer Ryan Staub out of the portal, but reports have suggested that the battle will likely come down to either MacIntyre or Brandon.
MacIntyre was the third-string quarterback behind Joey Aguilar and Jake Merklinger during his true freshman season in 2025. The Franklin, TN, native saw action in two games last year, throwing for 69 yards on 7-of-9 passing. He completed 6-of-7 attempts for 52 yards against ETSU, and then hit one of two passes for 17 yards against New Mexico State late in the year.
MacIntyre was a four-star prospect in the 2025 recruiting class.
VFLs Hendon Hooker and Joe Milton III have both been MPA counselors during the Josh Heupel era in Knoxville. Ex-Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava was not involved in the 2024 camp before his lone year as the Vols’ starter, while Joey Aguilar was a fresh newcomer transfer in Knoxville when the camp took place last year.
Stay tuned to Rocky Top Insider this week for more news of MacIntyre’s involvement in the 30th year of the Manning Passing Academy.
Hendon Hooker at the MPA
Joe Milton at the MPA
