Tennessee's 2026 class was one of the best in the nation, ranked as the No. 7 class by 247Sports. The highlight of the class was Greensboro, North Carolina, quarterback Faizon Brandon. The 5-star signal-caller is ranked the No. 2 player in the nation and could potentially start from day one in Knoxville.
Tennessee's backup QB turns the page with transfer portal commitment
Who will start week one next fall at quarterback remains an open question. I don't think Josh Heupel even knows, but bringing in a guy like Brandon will create a lot of good iron sharpens iron moments for Tennessee's offense.
The Vols got a significant boost this afternoon, as Brandon has officially arrived on campus and can begin working with Josh Heupel.
#GBO 🍊 pic.twitter.com/bcuqTS8WFM
— Faizon Brandon (@faizon_brandon) January 15, 2026
Faizon Brandon could be the starter next fall
The thing Vols fans will love most about Brandon is that he's a big-game quarterback. Brandon won back-to-back State Titles at Grimsley High School in North Carolina. Simply put, he shines in the big moments, something Tennessee has missed out on from their QB1.
Brandon is a high-IQ quarterback who makes great decisions, as he avoids putting the ball in harm's way. He can make plays on the move and throw off-platform. As a junior, he threw for 2,814 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. Brandon is mobile too, as he ran for 625 yards along with nine touchdowns. His senior year numbers don't look as good due to a wrist injury, but he's fully healed and ready to compete for a championship in Knoxville.
You can’t help but feel like, since Josh Heupel hasn't grabbed a portal quarterback, he likely will roll with an open competition between Brandon and redshirt freshman George MacIntyre. Both are immensely talented quarterbacks with different skill sets. Either way, the Vols will likely take some lumps with both guys having to adjust to the learning curve of SEC football, but it could pay off big down the road.
Either way, Tennessee is in excellent shape on offense next fall. They’re bringing back a ton of playmakers, and the offense should be firing on all cylinders. Josh Heupel knows how to scheme for a quarterback, too, making their life easier and playing to their strengths.