Joey Aguilar is officially ineligible to play college football for Tennessee.
A Knoxville judge denied a preliminary injunction, which could have halted NCAA eligibility rules in Aguilar’s case, on Feb. 20. The decision means Aguilar won’t be playing for the Vols in 2026 barring a speedy and successful appeal to reverse the order, which appears unlikely.
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That means redshirt freshman George MacIntyre and true freshman Faizon Brandon, along with Colorado transfer Ryan Staub, will all be battling to be starting quarterback this spring.
Here is what to know about MacIntyre:
George MacIntyre appeared in backup QB role for Tennessee in 2025
MacIntyre was one of three scholarship quarterbacks for Tennessee in 2025, and he was a backup along with Jake Merklinger, who transferred to UConn this offseason.
MacIntyre appeared in two games last season. He completed 7-of-9 passes for 69 yards, and his longest completion was 17 yards. MacIntyre made his debut against ETSU at Neyland Stadium on Sept. 6.
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George MacIntyre was a four-star quarterback in the 2025 class
MacIntyre was ranked as a four-star prospect in the 2025 class in the 247Sports Composite. The 6-foot-6, 190-pound MacIntyre was the No. 13 quarterback and No. 151 overall recruit nationally.
When MacIntyre committed to Tennessee in January 2024, he was ranked as the No. 15 player in the country and the No. 3 QB.
George MacIntyre has deep football ties in family
MacIntyre comes from a football family. His grandfather, the late George MacIntyre, was the Vanderbilt coach from 1979-85.
He’s the nephew of Mike MacIntyre, who has coached at San Jose State Colorado and Florida International. He also coached defensive backs with the Dallas Cowboys (2003-06) and New York Jets (2007). He spent last season as a defensive analyst at Mississippi State before getting hired as Oregon State defensive coordinator on Feb. 5.
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George MacIntyre starred at Brentwood Academy
MacIntyre was a dual-sport athlete at Brentwood Academy in Nashville, where he won a state basketball title as a sophomore and lost in the title as a junior.
MacIntyre threw for 8,293 yards with 62 touchdowns in 36 games, leading Brentwood to the 2023 state quarterfinals. He threw for 2,723 yards as a senior after throwing for 3,229 yards and 25 touchdowns as a junior.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: George MacIntyre, possible Tennessee starting QB in 2026, what to know
