Tennessee’s quarterback room has a clear headline-grabber, and he’s still waiting for his first college snap.
Faizon Brandon, the Class of 2026 five-star quarterback, picked up another major NIL partnership this week, landing with activewear brand Rhoback. The company announced the deal on social media Tuesday night, adding Brandon to a growing quarterback-heavy stable as he gets ready for his first season in Knoxville.
The move only adds to an already packed off-field profile. Brandon has a multi-year, $1.2 million trading card deal with Leaf Trading Cards, and his On3 NIL valuation is around $1 million. Before he ever enrolled at Tennessee, one source told On3’s Pete Nakos that Brandon’s Tennessee deal would pay between $1 million and $1.5 million in Year 1.
Rhoback has been active in the college football space lately. The brand recently re-signed Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed and Notre Dame wide receiver Jordan Faison ahead of the 2026 season, and it has also added Penn State’s Rocco Becht and Virginia’s Beau Pribula as part of its “Rhoback U” push. Brandon is the latest quarterback to join that group.
His NIL story stretches beyond the usual endorsement talk. Brandon has also hosted a youth football camp in Knoxville and donated more than $12,500 to Tennessee Children’s Home.
There’s legal history attached to his name as well. Brandon sued the North Carolina State Board of Education over its ban on endorsement deals for public school athletes, arguing that the rule kept him from earning while private school athletes in the state could. A judge later granted a preliminary injunction, which opened the door for him and other public school athletes to sign deals.
On the field, though, the focus is squarely on the battle that will shape Tennessee’s season: Brandon against George MacIntyre for the starting job. The competition has run through spring practice and into fall camp on Rocky Top.
Josh Heupel made it clear where camp begins. “Man, we're starting training camp.
Nobody's going to earn it (or) lose it on day one,” Heupel said. “Don't want to see a guy make the same mistake twice.
Want to see them be a different player than they were when they finished spring ball.”
Brandon kept his own description simple when asked about his relationship with MacIntyre. “It's definitely very competitive between us two,” Brandon said.
The two have handled things professionally, but reporters around camp have noticed that this quarterback room doesn’t carry the same closeness Tennessee had with Hendon Hooker and Joe Milton in the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
Heupel has also leaned on his reputation for developing young quarterbacks when talking about the position. “At the end of the day the players have got to go earn it, and they've got to compete for it every single day,” Heupel said.
“They've got to learn how to take care of the football first and foremost. You have to play with a competitive edge, allow your playmakers to go make plays as well.
The beauty of the game with your quarterback is each one of them's a little bit different. They're the artist.
You have to hand them the paintbrush and let them go paint it.”
Brandon arrived in Knoxville as a five-star prospect out of Greensboro’s Grimsley High School, ranked by Rivals as the No. 10 overall player and No. 3 quarterback in the 2026 class.
Some outside voices are already leaning his direction. One ESPN analyst wrote that Brandon “must first beat out redshirt freshman George MacIntyre for Tennessee's starting job, but his ceiling is significantly higher,” adding that “his natural arm strength is a great fit for Josh Heupel's vertical offense and could unlock another gear for Tennessee.”
Tennessee opens the season Sat., Sept. 5 against Furman, and Heupel is not expected to name a starter until late in August.
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