Evaluating Tennessee's 2025 QB Board
Head coach Josh Heupel and offensive coordinator Joey Halzle may be the two most active players on the 2025 quarterback market. They have spent time touring the southeast this summer to ensure they find the right guy for an important class. The Vols landed five-star Nico Iamaleava in 2023 and backed it up with four-star Jake Merklinger in 2024; what will their encore be?
Earlier this offseason, there were five names worth considering, but two of those prospects are trending elsewhere. Cutter Boley committed to the in-state Kentucky Wildcats last week and is a firm pledge - Boley was trending that way for a while and decided to pull the trigger. Meanwhile, Georgia native Antwann Hill has his sights set elsewhere for now, with Alabama, Auburn, and Clemson being the three main players for his services. That still leaves three targets on the board, and the Vols are in good standing with each. More importantly, they are all talented football players that bring a lot of value to their eventual college offense.
George MacIntyre
There isn't much of a secret on this one. MacIntyre is far and away the coaching staff's No. 1 option, and they are letting everyone know. They are the in-state school and have an advantage from the beginning, but they have pushed hard ever since MacIntyre finished his freshman season at Brentwood Academy. He's been on campus four times, three in his sophomore year. The five-star passer has a natural base, and rhythm, never thrown off-script. MacIntyre operates with poise and confidence, not to mention he runs a full-read system in one of the hardest high school divisions in America.
Deuce Knight
Mississippi native Deuce Knight has recently burst onto the national scene with his elite athleticism. Knight is the best athlete the position has seen from a national quarterback since Justin Fields in the 2018 recruiting cycle. Knight clocks a 4.53-second forty-yard dash and a 41.5" vertical jump. He has a 6-4.5 and 185-pound frame ready to take contact. While Knight must take strides as a passer, his hip dexterity and natural arm talent allow him to throw off-platform accurately. The Vols are squarely fighting for his services, and he recently confirmed to Volunteer Country that he would be in Knoxville on June 2.
KJ Lacey
Many forget about KJ Lacey in the 2025 quarterback discussion - it's just a forethought that he ends up with the Alabama Crimson Tide. While Alabama is in good standing with Lacey, his recruitment is just beginning. He also plans to be in Knoxville this summer and has scheduled a June 25 visit. Lacey may have the best muscle twitch of any 2025 signal caller. His movements are compact and efficient, allowing him to manipulate the pocket at a smaller stature. His natural arm talent and ball placement were evident when watching him work at the Elite 11 regionals in Carrollton, Georgia, and he has the chance to be special in college.
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