Josh Heupel isn’t asking Faizon Brandon to turn into a hero. He’s asking him to stop playing like one mistake will end the night.
That was the message Tennessee’s head coach sent after Brandon’s uneven first SEC start against No. 1 Texas on Saturday, a game in which the true freshman looked every bit his age but still flashed enough to remind everyone why his future remains so promising. The growing pains were real, though, and Heupel made clear that Brandon has to start trusting what he sees and pulling the trigger when the chances are there.
"Well, I think going back... not reckless decisions," Heupel said on what he wants to see out of his QB. "But in Saturday's game there were windows, opportunities, timing, whatever it may be, where he's gotta let it rip. There were things that he saw and things that maybe he missed, but that's a part of growing as a quarterback."
Heupel’s point is simple: aggressive does not mean careless. Brandon was under heavy pressure for much of the game because of poor play up front, but there were also moments when Tennessee gave him enough time to make something happen and he didn’t cash in.
On multiple snaps, he missed open receivers. That’s the kind of thing that can’t linger if Tennessee wants to keep moving forward.
The Vols fell 20-17, and Brandon’s numbers reflected the struggle. He finished 17-of-29 for 145 yards and a touchdown.
For Tennessee to pull off the upset, he was going to have to play above his years. Instead, the offense spent too much of the afternoon fighting uphill.
Still, the season doesn’t stop there, and neither does Brandon’s development. Tennessee returns to Neyland Stadium this weekend for a matchup with Auburn, and the pressure is already building for a response.
No. 17 Tennessee needs a bounce-back win, and that starts with Brandon being more decisive - and with the offensive line doing a far better job in front of him.
Alex Golesh and the Auburn Tigers are headed to town, and Tennessee knows what kind of challenge awaits. Auburn will try to heat Brandon up and see whether Texas’ 10-sack day can be replicated. If the line falters again, the freshman quarterback will be in another long afternoon.
But if the protection improves and Brandon follows Heupel’s advice, Tennessee has a chance to look a lot sharper. The coach doesn’t want hesitation.
He doesn’t want fear. He wants his quarterback to see it and rip it.
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