Tennessee football could have a generational quarterback in the 2026 recruiting class. Faizon Brandon is expected to join the Vols after committing to Josh Heupel and Tennessee last year.
Heupel has been searching for the next quarterback to run his up-tempo system near-flawlessly but has been unsuccessful in his first few years recruiting high school athletes.
Brandon, the five-star quarterback from North Carolina, could be the next big thing for Tennessee, at least according to ESPN.
ESPN's Tom Luginbill mentioned that Brandon is further along than Hooker when he was preparing to graduate from high school as a Virginia Tech commit.
"There's a clear trend emerging in Knoxville when it comes to quarterback traits in terms of stature, athleticism, and arm strength," wrote Luginbill. "Brandon checks all three boxes.
"He's very similar to former Vols standout Hendon Hooker and is further along developmentally than Hooker was at Brandon's age. Though not quite as polished as Nico Iamaleava coming out of high school, Brandon throws a great deep ball, which Tennessee coach Josh Heupel requires from all his quarterbacks."
Hooker has undoubtedly been the best Heupel-era quarterback for Tennessee. He ran the system to near perfection in his two seasons at Tennessee, nearly taking the Vols to the College Football Playoff in his final season.
With Nico Iamaleava's departure, the door for Brandon to become the Vols' starting quarterback as a true freshman is open.
Seeing his potential on Rocky Top, he has become a vocal leader in the 2026 recruiting class. He joined five-star wide receiver Tristen Keys on campus this past weekend. Keys is the No. 1 receiver in the 2026 recruiting class and could create a lethal duo if he and Brandon team up on Rocky Top.