University of Tennessee Athletics
Vols Finish Second Week of Preseason Camp With First Scrimmage
August 15, 2026 | Football
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee football finished its second week of preseason camp with a two-hour scrimmage on a hot Saturday inside Neyland Stadium.
The Volunteers emphasized physicality with the majority of the day being live tackling with some thud periods, while working all three phases. Sophomore George MacIntyre and freshman Faizon Brandon rotated series at quarterback with the first-team and second-team offenses.
"I thought as the scrimmage went on, both played at a really high level," said Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel. "They made some plays down the field, worked through their progressions. We worked four-minute (offense) today, some things we can learn in that. All in all, a positive day. Both of those guys, they've had good training camps. In general, they're taking really good care of the football."
Heupel discussed the recent season-ending injuries of sophomore linebacker Jaedon Harmon and junior safety Edrees Farooq. Harmon tore his ACL in his right knee during last Saturday's practice, while Farooq suffered a torn patellar tendon in his right knee on Friday while making a play.
"I hate it for Edrees. I hate it for Jaedon. Two plays that were not heavy contact either. Just body positions and ultimately have real injuries. I hate it for both of them because they are both great teammates. Both had great offseasons. They are guys that have invested in their growth and understanding of the game, their position, their bodies. It's also why I know through this rehab process that they'll handle it like pros and come out the other side. They have great futures ahead of them."
The Vols will conduct meetings Saturday evening and Sunday morning to go over the scrimmage and turn the page to the third week of camp. Classes begin on the UT campus Monday.
Tennessee Football Press Conference | Aug. 15, 2026
Head Coach Josh Heupel
Opening statement…
"Good work today inside the stadium and scrimmage. A lot of situational football, from special teams to different field zones, offense and defense. A lot of really good work. Some things that obviously we have to continue to clean up. Some young guys that did some really good things, but some young guys that have to continue to grow and be ready to play championship level football here, as you get ready to play this season. So, a lot of positives, but we have to continue to grow here. A lot of work left here in the next three weeks to get ready to go play."
On his evaluation of George MacIntyre and Faizon Brandon in the scrimmage setting…
"Today, a couple of communication, just handling some things early in the scrimmage that I think we can improve upon. I thought as the scrimmage went on, both played at a really high level. They made some plays down the field, worked through their progressions. We worked four-minute (offense) today, some things we can learn in that. All in all, positive day. Both of those guys, they've had good training camps. In general, they're taking really good care of the football. They've continued to grow in mastering what we're doing, the control and command that you have to have at the quarterback position. But for both of them, just like our football team, there's a lot of growth to be ready to go play.
On the competitiveness of the quarterback competition…
"I like the growth from both of those guys. They've had really positive days, positive plays. They've all had one that they probably would do a little bit different. The fundamentals and technique continue to get better, understanding of what we're doing. I just want to see them continue to grow here over the next couple weeks."
On the depth of the running backs beyond DeSean Bishop…
"(Justin Baker, Javin Gordon and Daune Morris), all of them are playing, competing at a really high level, and you have real competition in your position room. It's the best friend you have as a coach, and I can see those guys. They feel the urgency of taking advantage of every rep every single day. That room collectively as a group is playing really good football right now."
On Edrees Farooq and Jaedon Harmon injuries…
"I hate it for Edrees. I hate it for Jaedon. Two plays that were not heavy contact either. Just body positions and ultimately have real injuries. Hate it for both of them because they are both great teammates. Both had great offseasons. Guys that have invested in their growth and understanding of the game, their position, their bodies. It's also why I know through this rehab process that they'll handle it like pros and come out the other side. They got great futures ahead of them."
On how their teammates handled things emotionally and in the scrimmage…
"Everybody hurts. Coaches, players, everybody in your program when you see somebody have a real injury like that. At the same time, I thought that they responded extremely well. Back half of practice yesterday and today, this opportunity getting ready to go compete."
On how the injury at the safety spot might affect creativity and depth…
"It affects the depth. I don't think it'll affect the creativity of what we're looking to do."
On what he saw from the offensive and defensive line…
"Some real positives. Defensive line applied some pressure to the quarterback in particular early in the scrimmage. Offensive line, I thought the run game grew throughout the scrimmage. Getting everybody on the same page. All 11 on a unit. Four guys on the defensive line operating as one. That's defending the run game and affecting the quarterback. Then offensively, obviously all five and your tight ends and backs, you're at a stage in the journey of training camp that you got to push, you got to compete, you got to grow. You got to take advantage of every rep. There is a lot left out there for us at this point. Always is. We just got to continue to work and compete and grow."
On the value of a player like Jesse Perry and his ability to play both guard and tackle at a high level…
"Smart, tough, relentless competitor. Understands the game at an extremely high level. (He has) the ability to understand the technique that you have to play with at both of those positions with different forms of pass rush you're going to see sliding outside. Mastering your eyes in pass protection and the run game too at two different positions. Jesse's versatility is a huge part for us on the offensive line. We're going to need that through the season."
On how much tackling took place in the scrimmage and if he was pleased with it…
"Over 50 percent of it was tackling. Throughout the course of the day, some good work. We've done a bunch of tackling during the course of our practices too. We got to continue to refine those skills (with) our eyes, our pad level. I think we've taken real steps as a program from where we started in the spring to where we are now. We've got two more weeks where we've got to continue to improve before we get ready for Week 1."
On the level of physicality on both sides of the ball during the scrimmage…
"Today, pads were poppin'. It was physical. Through training camp I think it's been really physical."
On the competition for the third wide receiver spot…
"Want to see one guy, but really all of them. We're going to need them all through the course of the season. Just continue to grow in their approach, mindset every day. Consistency in what we're doing out there, fundamentals and technique, understanding zone-man principles, being on the right spot at the right time and continuing to be consistent playmakers. So, there's some growth that we need from the entire wide receiver position. Some of those young guys that got to be ready to play too."
On not making the same mistake twice and how that has applied to the quarterbacks…
"I feel like those guys have continued to grow. The multiple looks that they see from our defense in drop back and play action and our run game, RPO game; they continue to take a lot of steps and are doing some really good things in the decision-making process."
On if he feels thing are any clearer after the first scrimmage in the quarterback battle…
"I already named him out there, you guys didn't pay attention? I'm kidding. No, I want to go watch the tape. You know what I mean? There's a lot to learn from for everybody and certainly the quarterback room too."
The Volunteers emphasized physicality with the majority of the day being live tackling with some thud periods, while working all three phases. Sophomore George MacIntyre and freshman Faizon Brandon rotated series at quarterback with the first-team and second-team offenses.
"I thought as the scrimmage went on, both played at a really high level," said Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel. "They made some plays down the field, worked through their progressions. We worked four-minute (offense) today, some things we can learn in that. All in all, a positive day. Both of those guys, they've had good training camps. In general, they're taking really good care of the football."
Heupel discussed the recent season-ending injuries of sophomore linebacker Jaedon Harmon and junior safety Edrees Farooq. Harmon tore his ACL in his right knee during last Saturday's practice, while Farooq suffered a torn patellar tendon in his right knee on Friday while making a play.
"I hate it for Edrees. I hate it for Jaedon. Two plays that were not heavy contact either. Just body positions and ultimately have real injuries. I hate it for both of them because they are both great teammates. Both had great offseasons. They are guys that have invested in their growth and understanding of the game, their position, their bodies. It's also why I know through this rehab process that they'll handle it like pros and come out the other side. They have great futures ahead of them."
The Vols will conduct meetings Saturday evening and Sunday morning to go over the scrimmage and turn the page to the third week of camp. Classes begin on the UT campus Monday.
Tennessee Football Press Conference | Aug. 15, 2026
Head Coach Josh Heupel
Opening statement…
"Good work today inside the stadium and scrimmage. A lot of situational football, from special teams to different field zones, offense and defense. A lot of really good work. Some things that obviously we have to continue to clean up. Some young guys that did some really good things, but some young guys that have to continue to grow and be ready to play championship level football here, as you get ready to play this season. So, a lot of positives, but we have to continue to grow here. A lot of work left here in the next three weeks to get ready to go play."
On his evaluation of George MacIntyre and Faizon Brandon in the scrimmage setting…
"Today, a couple of communication, just handling some things early in the scrimmage that I think we can improve upon. I thought as the scrimmage went on, both played at a really high level. They made some plays down the field, worked through their progressions. We worked four-minute (offense) today, some things we can learn in that. All in all, positive day. Both of those guys, they've had good training camps. In general, they're taking really good care of the football. They've continued to grow in mastering what we're doing, the control and command that you have to have at the quarterback position. But for both of them, just like our football team, there's a lot of growth to be ready to go play.
On the competitiveness of the quarterback competition…
"I like the growth from both of those guys. They've had really positive days, positive plays. They've all had one that they probably would do a little bit different. The fundamentals and technique continue to get better, understanding of what we're doing. I just want to see them continue to grow here over the next couple weeks."
On the depth of the running backs beyond DeSean Bishop…
"(Justin Baker, Javin Gordon and Daune Morris), all of them are playing, competing at a really high level, and you have real competition in your position room. It's the best friend you have as a coach, and I can see those guys. They feel the urgency of taking advantage of every rep every single day. That room collectively as a group is playing really good football right now."
On Edrees Farooq and Jaedon Harmon injuries…
"I hate it for Edrees. I hate it for Jaedon. Two plays that were not heavy contact either. Just body positions and ultimately have real injuries. Hate it for both of them because they are both great teammates. Both had great offseasons. Guys that have invested in their growth and understanding of the game, their position, their bodies. It's also why I know through this rehab process that they'll handle it like pros and come out the other side. They got great futures ahead of them."
On how their teammates handled things emotionally and in the scrimmage…
"Everybody hurts. Coaches, players, everybody in your program when you see somebody have a real injury like that. At the same time, I thought that they responded extremely well. Back half of practice yesterday and today, this opportunity getting ready to go compete."
On how the injury at the safety spot might affect creativity and depth…
"It affects the depth. I don't think it'll affect the creativity of what we're looking to do."
On what he saw from the offensive and defensive line…
"Some real positives. Defensive line applied some pressure to the quarterback in particular early in the scrimmage. Offensive line, I thought the run game grew throughout the scrimmage. Getting everybody on the same page. All 11 on a unit. Four guys on the defensive line operating as one. That's defending the run game and affecting the quarterback. Then offensively, obviously all five and your tight ends and backs, you're at a stage in the journey of training camp that you got to push, you got to compete, you got to grow. You got to take advantage of every rep. There is a lot left out there for us at this point. Always is. We just got to continue to work and compete and grow."
On the value of a player like Jesse Perry and his ability to play both guard and tackle at a high level…
"Smart, tough, relentless competitor. Understands the game at an extremely high level. (He has) the ability to understand the technique that you have to play with at both of those positions with different forms of pass rush you're going to see sliding outside. Mastering your eyes in pass protection and the run game too at two different positions. Jesse's versatility is a huge part for us on the offensive line. We're going to need that through the season."
On how much tackling took place in the scrimmage and if he was pleased with it…
"Over 50 percent of it was tackling. Throughout the course of the day, some good work. We've done a bunch of tackling during the course of our practices too. We got to continue to refine those skills (with) our eyes, our pad level. I think we've taken real steps as a program from where we started in the spring to where we are now. We've got two more weeks where we've got to continue to improve before we get ready for Week 1."
On the level of physicality on both sides of the ball during the scrimmage…
"Today, pads were poppin'. It was physical. Through training camp I think it's been really physical."
On the competition for the third wide receiver spot…
"Want to see one guy, but really all of them. We're going to need them all through the course of the season. Just continue to grow in their approach, mindset every day. Consistency in what we're doing out there, fundamentals and technique, understanding zone-man principles, being on the right spot at the right time and continuing to be consistent playmakers. So, there's some growth that we need from the entire wide receiver position. Some of those young guys that got to be ready to play too."
On not making the same mistake twice and how that has applied to the quarterbacks…
"I feel like those guys have continued to grow. The multiple looks that they see from our defense in drop back and play action and our run game, RPO game; they continue to take a lot of steps and are doing some really good things in the decision-making process."
On if he feels thing are any clearer after the first scrimmage in the quarterback battle…
"I already named him out there, you guys didn't pay attention? I'm kidding. No, I want to go watch the tape. You know what I mean? There's a lot to learn from for everybody and certainly the quarterback room too."
Players Mentioned
RB
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RB
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QB
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DB
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RB
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LB
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QB
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RB
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OL
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