Faizon Brandon named Tennessee's starting quarterback
Faizon Brandon will start at quarterback for Tennessee football in 2026 after coach Josh Heupel told the team of the decision on Aug. 24, according to a Knox News source. The five-star freshman beat out George MacIntyre and Ryan Staub and is set to debut Sept. 5 against Furman at Neyland Stadium.
No official announcement had been made when the news broke. Heupel was expected to discuss the choice later that day, the Knoxville News Sentinel reported. Follow more celebrity breaking news as the story develops.
Key Takeaways
- Josh Heupel named Faizon Brandon the Volunteers' starting quarterback to open 2026.
- The five-star freshman from Greensboro, North Carolina, beat George MacIntyre and Ryan Staub.
- He is Tennessee's 13th true freshman to start at quarterback, the first since Nico Iamaleava in the 2023 Citrus Bowl.
- His first start is Sept. 5 vs. Furman; Brent Schaeffer last started a true-freshman season opener in 2004.
Who is Faizon Brandon, and why did he win the job?
Brandon is a 6-foot-4, 225-pound true freshman who enrolled at Tennessee in January. Knox News said he was a five-star recruit and the No. 3 quarterback in the 2026 class by the 247Sports Composite. CBS Sports listed him as the No. 2 quarterback in that class per 247Sports.
In high school, Brandon led Grimsley (N.C.) to consecutive state championships in 2024 and 2025 and posted a 35-1 record as a starter, CBS Sports reported. He threw 90 touchdown passes against 10 interceptions, with four of those picks coming as a freshman backup.
The competition ran through the offseason. Knox News said Brandon's downfield passing, running ability, and growth in the offense helped him pull ahead of sophomore George MacIntyre and Colorado transfer Ryan Staub. CBS Sports said he beat MacIntyre with strong scrimmage work from spring through fall camp.
The path opened after Tennessee explored the transfer portal in January but did not sign a quarterback. In February, 2025 starter Joey Aguilar failed to gain an extra year of eligibility when a Knoxville judge denied a preliminary injunction in his NCAA case.
When does Faizon Brandon start, and what did camp show?
Tennessee opens Sept. 5 at 3:30 p.m. ET against Furman at Neyland Stadium on SEC Network+/ESPN+. CBS Sports said the confirmation came with under two weeks until that kickoff.
A Knox TN Today report from the Aug. 22 second scrimmage, before Heupel named a starter, showed mixed results. Brandon broke a 30-yard run in a no-contact format, then took a two-hand-touch sack and answered with a long throw to Mike Matthews that a holding penalty wiped out. Safety T.J. Metcalf intercepted a Brandon pass. George MacIntyre threw an interception that Dejuan Lane returned for a touchdown, then later a scoring pass to Ian Duarte.
Heupel called it a good second scrimmage with defensive turnovers and offensive communication issues. He said the quarterbacks had generally taken care of the football, with positives and lessons from that day.
Can a freshman quarterback survive Tennessee's SEC schedule?
CBS Sports framed the rest of the calendar as the real test. After Furman, Tennessee visits Georgia Tech on Sept. 12, hosts Kennesaw State, then opens SEC play against No. 5 Texas on Sept. 26. The Vols also face No. 13 Alabama, No. 8 Texas A&M, and No. 11 LSU. CBS said Tennessee faces four teams ranked in the top 15 of the preseason AP poll.
Support around Brandon is experienced, according to CBS Sports. The Vols return 74% of offensive-line snaps, including left tackle David Sanders Jr. and center Sam Pendleton, who has 20 career starts. Mike Matthews and Braylon Staley each topped 800 receiving yards last season, and running back DeSean Bishop had 1,211 yards from scrimmage and 16 touchdowns. CBS said Tennessee returns 61% of offensive snaps, ninth nationally.
Knox News noted the true-freshman starter list also includes Peyton Manning, Casey Clausen, Erik Ainge, Tyler Bray, and Joshua Dobbs, the top five career passers in UT history.