Tennessee coach Josh Heupel was noncommittal about his choice at quarterback -- either true freshman Faizon Brandon or sophomore George MacIntyre -- for Saturday's SEC game against No. 6 Alabama.
Brandon, who has started the 14th-ranked Vols' first five games, suffered a shoulder injury in a 20-17 loss to then-No. 1 Texas on Sept. 26. He returned to the game and started the following week against Auburn but was pulled in favor of MacIntyre after throwing an interception.
Citing Brandon's injury, Heupel turned to MacIntyre for the start against Arkansas on Saturday.
"We'll find out here through the week," Heupel told reporters of the plan against rival Alabama. "We get on the grass tomorrow and we'll work toward Saturday."
Both teams are 5-1 overall and have one loss in SEC play. Alabama is coming off a 20-17 home loss to top-ranked and undefeated Georgia.
MacIntyre, who was 8-of-10 passing with no interceptions in the win over Auburn, was up and down against the Razorbacks. He finished 18-of-29 passing for 247 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in a 24-17 road victory.
"I thought he was decisive with the football," Heupel said Monday. "He was going to the right spot and made some plays. ... Collectively as a group we got to do a better job of taking care of the football."
Whereas MacIntyre is more of a pocket passer, Brandon is a willing runner. In addition to throwing for 697 yards and seven touchdowns this season, Brandon has carried the ball 53 times for 130 yards and three touchdowns.