Tennessee football has a bright future ahead of it. They just signed offensive coordinator Joey Halzle to an extension, and they replaced Tim Banks with a top defensive mind. Oh, and they just signed the best recruiting class under Josh Heupel.
Things look to be even brighter.
The face of the 2026 class, 5-star Faizon Brandon, had one last box to check before arriving in Knoxville. Friday night, he checked that box, winning his second state title in a row. As the No. 2 player in the nation, all eyes were on Brandon, and he delivered.
I mean, look at these plays. Brandon showed off everything on this drive. He's a long strider who has burst, but isn't afraid of contact and falling forward. Not only that, he can make quick cuts that make defenders miss. There is a reason why he's the second-best player in the nation.
This drive was all about the legs of Tennessee QB signee @faizon_brandon.@grimsleyfb now up 14-7 pic.twitter.com/pvkFSmawaZ
— ChadSimmons (@ChadSimmons_) December 13, 2025
Faizon Brandon wins the state championship
Tennessee fans should be fired up at this development. For the haters who still have their doubts about Brandon, know that he finished his high school career an astonishing 35-1, proving that the Vols are getting a bonified winner. Brandon also racked up 112 total touchdowns during his career, making defenses look silly week after week.
What should really excite Vols fans is his dual-threat ability. Not only can Brandon make the difficult throws at all three levels, but he also makes plays with his feet, which is a significant advantage. Defenses will have to be on their toes when Brandon is on the field.
With the uncertainty around the quarterback position next fall, Brandon could compete to be QB1 on day one. Obviously the SEC possesses much more sophisticated defenses than North Carolina high school football, but Brandon has a legit game that could start as a freshman
We have seen plenty of top-rated high school quarterbacks start as true freshmen in recent years. DJ Lagway at Florida, Bryce Underwood at Michigan, Dylan Raiola at Nebraska. Many examples show it can work.
Now, will Josh Heupel grab a portal quarterback and let Brandon develop for a year? That
remains a million-dollar question. No matter what happens, Tennessee fans should be pumped that they have a potential Heisman contender coming to Knoxville soon.