Depth Chart Thursday: Examining the Volunteers' 2026 Spring Position Battles

As the Tennessee Volunteers navigate Spring Ball & Recruiting 2026, head coach Josh Heupel and his staff are hard at work evaluating the roster following the annual Orange & White split-squad scrimmage held on April 11 at Neyland Stadium. With the dust settled from the spring game, SEC Saturday Wire takes a look at the pivotal position battles shaping the team.

For Depth Chart Thursday, the biggest spotlight shines on the Volunteers' offense. Offensive coordinator Joey Halzle is overseeing a tight quarterback competition to determine the 2026 starter. The starting role remains firmly undecided, with George MacIntyre and Faizon Brandon locked in a fierce battle for the coveted QB1 spot, while incoming transfer Ryan Staub is also integrating himself into the depth chart.

On the other side of the ball, the arrival of new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles signals a schematic revamp for a unit looking to bounce back. Following a narrow 30-28 loss to Illinois in the Music City Bowl last December and a slew of NFL departures—including second-round draft pick Colton Hood, as well as Joshua Josephs and Bryson Eason—Knowles is searching for new playmakers to step up. The projected defensive starters will heavily feature key returners Daevin Hobbs and Arion Carter. In the secondary, incoming transfers Jadais Richard, Dejuan Lane, and Tre Poteat III are competing to climb the depth chart and fill the voids left by outgoing talent.

The offense will lean on returning starters Shamurad Umarov and Mike Matthews to provide stability for whichever quarterback ultimately wins the job. Aided by new strength coach Derek Owings, whose record-breaking salary reflects the program's immense commitment to physical development, the Volunteers are utilizing the remainder of the spring and summer to finalize their critical two-deep rotations.