Word has leaked out from beyond the practice field that George MacIntyre will be Tennessee’s starting quarterback Saturday on the road against Arkansas.

Monday, Volunteers coach Josh Heupel was coy with the media when he was barraged by questions at his regular meeting with the press. However, by Tuesday, several media outlets have confirmed that MacIntyre is going to be the guy to start the game taking the snaps behind center.

It was late in the loss to Texas when Faizon Brandon came down hard on his right shoulder. He played through the pain. However, in last week’s win over Auburn, Brandon didn’t seem like himself when he was very ineffective. He completed three passes for zero yards.

With about 4 minutes left in the first half, Heupel turned to MacIntyre to rescue Tennessee in a very winnable game against the Tigers.

MacIntyre completed his first six passes — and 8 out of 10 for 86 yards — to give the Vols at least some semblance of a passing attack. A 42-yard pitch-and-catch down the middle to Mike Matthews was the highlight of what the air offense was able to accomplish.

It was a situation where Tennessee was able to manhandle Auburn on the offensive line, opening up the opportunity for DeSean Bishop to rush for 220 yards and three touchdowns.

Whoever is running the ball Saturday in Fayetteville has a good chance to be effective. Pitting the Vols’ offensive line against the Razorbacks’ front seven is going to give Tennessee a decided advantage.

However, there’s more at stake than just winning a game against a bad team Saturday.

The Vols will be charged to put an offense together that can sustain itself and even have a chance against a very talented Alabama defense in two weeks.

That’s where MacIntyre comes in.

The redshirt freshman, who will be making his first collegiate start, will have to grow up in a hurry. What good is it to have talented receivers like Matthews, Braylon Staley, Radarious Jackson and TK Keys if the guy with the football in his hand can’t get the ball to them?

Since Heupel has made his decision, he’ll have the entire week to install a gameplan that MacIntyre will be comfortable executing.

This is where Heupel will get the benefit of the doubt.

He’s been there. As a quarterback who led Oklahoma to the national title in 2000, Heupel knows what goes into competing at a high level. He has been able to coax great performances out of unlikely sources.

He’s got a blank slate now; a lump of clay that hasn’t been molded.

It’s time to put those skills to work and develop a winner.

Source: Yahoo Sports