Unveiled: Tennessee’s 2025 Offensive Lineup—Which Rising Star Will Dominate the Field?

Come July 30, Tennessee’s gridiron warriors will kick off their fall camp, setting the stage for a highly anticipated 2025 football campaign. Mark your calendars for August 30 — the Vols will clash with Syracuse in a captivating Aflac Kickoff showdown at Atlanta’s iconic Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Now, here’s the real kicker: 2025 ushers in a fresh face at quarterback, stirring up excitement and competition. Josh Heupel, steering the ship for his fifth season, has his hands full evaluating three promising contenders — Joey Aguilar, Jake Merklinger, and George MacIntyre — each bringing a unique spark to the huddle. It’s a quarterback duel fueled by summer workouts, burgeoning leadership, and a hunger to command the field. Beyond the signal-caller, the Vols face a significant transition replacing record-setting running back Dylan Sampson, alongside their top three receiving yard leaders. That kind of turnover promises a season rife with challenges and opportunities alike. Curious to dive deeper into the lineup and what lies ahead for Tennessee football? LEARN MOREAhead of the 2025 season, “Phil Steele’s College Football Preview” was released. Steele released a projected starting lineup for the Vols’ offense and is listed below.Tennessee will open fall training camp July 30 ahead of its 2025 football season. The Vols’ season opener is slated for Aug. 30 against Syracuse. The Aflac Kickoff between the Vols and Orange will be contested at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.Fifth-year Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel discussed the Vols’ quarterback competition at SEC media days between Joey Aguilar, Jake Merklinger and George MacIntyre.Tennessee will have a new starting quarterback in 2025.

Tennessee will also replace its starting running back in Dylan Sampson. He set the following single-season program records at Tennessee: total touchdowns scored (22), points scored (132), rushing yards (1,491) and consecutive games with a rushing touchdown (11).

“We will have a competition at the quarterback position, three guys inside of that room, really proud of what they’ve done,” Heupel said. “Joey, since he got there in May, Merklinger and George MacIntyre, what those three guys have done since they’ve been on campus. They’ve taken the summer, developed relationships, rapport with the guys around them, their ability to compete in a positive way with each other in the meeting room and on the field. Their ability to have leadership traits and to continue to grow in that. I’m really excited about getting on the field with those guys.”

The Vols will also replace their top three leaders in receiving yards from last season: Dont’e Thornton Jr., Bru McCoy and Squirrel White.

2025 Tennessee football projected starting lineup for offense

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