Did Josh Heupel screw up at Tennessee? Don't expect an answer to that

Podcast hosts like to say they’re just asking questions.

Josh Heupel put his own twist on that.

The Tennessee coach is tired of talking about his quarterback situation. After fielding five straight questions about quarterbacks at his news conference earlier this week, Heupel firmly shut down a reporter’s attempt at another QB question.

“OK, next question,” Heupel said. “I’m done with the quarterbacks — politely, I’m sorry.”

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This is out of character for Heupel. His interactions with the media typically can be described as boring but cordial. If he had hoped to tamp down the quarterback drama, his “next question” moment generated the opposite effect. It drew more attention to Tennessee’s quarterback situation.

He apologized to the reporter he cut off. Fair enough. Heupel isn’t obligated to answer quarterback questions, and his “next question” interjection was nowhere near the testiest response in history from a coach exhausted by a line of questioning.

The biggest question, though, is one no one asked: Josh, did you screw up by not signing a marquee transfer quarterback in the offseason?

Answer: Seems like it.

Tennessee changes quarterbacks ahead of Arkansas

Multiple reports, including one from Knox News, part of the USA TODAY Network, indicate George MacIntyre is in line to start against Arkansas this weekend. MacIntyre came off the bench last weekend and helped bail Tennessee out of a jam against Auburn.

Heupel continued to offer limited info in his midweek media availability.

“I’m not going to go into great detail on our plan for our quarterbacks,” he said on the SEC’s teleconference.

Here’s what we know: Tennessee won’t be starting a transfer, because Heupel failed to secure a transfer in the offseason other than third-stringer Ryan Staub.

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Heupel’s inability to land a plug-and-play quarterback must be particularly frustrating for Vols fans, considering the team appears to possess a playoff-caliber defense, which powered Tennessee in the win against Auburn and positioned the Vols to nearly upset No. 1 Texas.

Now, imagine if Tennessee had a dependable quarterback to go with that defense.

[ This column first published in our SEC Unfiltered newsletter. Want more commentary like this? Sign up here to get the newsletter delivered free to your email inbox.]

Josh Heupel offense looks good with a transfer. He didn’t nab a big one

Give Heupel credit for hiring coordinator Jim Knowles, who swiftly rebounded after a bad pit stop at Penn State. Knowles’ defense will keep No. 14 Tennessee competitive in most games, and the Vols should pile up several more victories behind that unit.

But, if Heupel had added a top-shelf transfer quarterback, Tennessee’s outlook wouldn’t be that of an 8-4 or 9-3 team. Instead, the Vols could be pointed toward the SEC Championship and a College Football Playoff run. As it stands, those seem like far-fetched destinations despite the strong defense, because the quarterback situation is so wobbly.

Making this even more maddening? Heupel should know from experience his offense performs at its best when he’s operating with an experienced transfer at the controls.

Hendon Hooker flourished under Heupel as a veteran transfer after Heupel inherited him from Jeremy Pruitt.

Then, Joey Aguilar fell into Heupel’s lap last year after Nico Iamaleava fled the coop. Aguilar, a seventh-year senior, dazzled in his lone season playing for Heupel. The Vols’ offense ranked second in the SEC behind only Mississippi.

Instead of running it back with another transfer, Heupel handed the keys to freshman Faizon Brandon. When that didn’t work, he turned to MacIntyre, who’d played sparingly up to this point in his career. Brandon’s shoulder got banged-up along the way, and MacIntyre’s 8-of-10 passing against Auburn makes it so he’d be the right choice against Arkansas, no matter Brandon’s health.

Now, many are wondering whether Heupel chose the wrong starting quarterback at the beginning of the season, just as he did in 2021. That year, Heupel anointed Joe Milton over Hooker, before an injury to Milton thrust Hooker into a job he never surrendered.

Heupel is a proven quarterback developer, but he has not proven to be the most trustworthy in choosing quarterbacks.

The narrative that Heupel picked the wrong starter again will gain steam if MacIntyre lights up woebegone Arkansas. That’s the best-case scenario for Tennessee. It’d mean MacIntyre played well against the Hogs.

The alternative is this question: Did Heupel err by not signing a transfer who could be a one-year stopgap for Tennessee this season while its younger quarterbacks developed?

I’m just asking questions. It’s not like I expect Heupel to answer them.

Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s senior national college football columnist. Listen to his podcast, “College Football Unfiltered.”Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Did Josh Heupel screw up at Tennessee? Don’t expect an answer to that

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