Tennessee quarterbacks share what they saw from Jim Knowles’ defense in spring camp
By David Wasson
Published:
The Tennessee Volunteers will not only be going into the 2026 season with a new quarterback to replace Joey Aguilar but also with a new defensive scheme to replace the one that sputtered at times last season.
New defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, who comes to the Volunteers after stints running defenses at Ohio State and Penn State, has been busily installing his system during Tennessee’s 15-workout spring practice session that wrapped up Saturday with the Orange & White game at Neyland Stadium.
And both potential new starting quarterbacks – George MacIntyre and Faizon Brandon – said there is plenty of disguise and surprise on deck for the Tennessee defense this fall.
“Coach Knowles has really mastered disguise. I would also say, with the new defense there is very [minimal] complete busts throughout spring ball,” MacIntyre said to reporters after Saturday’s scrimmage.” You might expect guys running wide open a lot when you’re doing installs, but I feel like our DBs are really locked in with what they are doing and disguising stuff.
“I feel like the second half of spring ball, they really got good at disguising pressures and we had to really understand our protections and know where we’re hot and stuff like that.”
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Brandon, a 5-star incoming freshman who is locked into the QB1 battle with the redshirt freshman MacIntyre, added that the different looks the Vols defense gave all spring will definitely improve Tennessee’s offense as well.
“I would definitely say all the different coverages and stuff will definitely make us better,” Brandon said. “It made us have to be on top of our game, as George said, with the checks and just knowing where to put our eyes in certain looks that we get.”
Tennessee opens the 2026 season against Furman at home on Sept. 5 and begin SEC play Sept. 26 at home against Texas.
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
