Faizon Brandon’s first night in a Tennessee uniform looked a lot like the kind of debut that gets people talking.
The five-star true freshman quarterback led the Volunteers to a 56-9 win over Furman on Saturday afternoon at Neyland Stadium, and he did it with a performance that showed off every part of his game. Brandon completed 13 of 17 passes for 226 yards and three touchdowns, added 68 rushing yards and two more scores on 10 carries, and never turned the ball over.
His first touchdown throw as a collegian went to senior tight end Ethan Davis from 17 yards out, giving Tennessee its first score of the season with 10:42 left in the first quarter.
Brandon kept building from there, and junior receiver Mike Matthews became his favorite target. Matthews caught two of Brandon’s three touchdown passes, starting with a 55-yard strike on Tennessee’s first possession of the second half.
That play stretched the Vols’ halftime lead of four touchdowns to 35 points. On the very next possession, Brandon and Matthews hooked up again, this time for a 57-yard touchdown.
Matthews finished as Tennessee’s top receiver with four catches for 132 yards and two touchdowns.
The only other Tennessee pass catcher to find the end zone was freshman TK Keys, who grabbed a 22-yard touchdown from backup quarterback George MacIntyre late in the third quarter. It was Keys’ first career touchdown catch in his first career game.
MacIntyre entered with 5:55 left in the third quarter and finished 5 of 7 for 56 yards and a touchdown in his first action of the season.
In Other News...
Tennessee Has An Early O-Line Concern Before Georgia Tech
Tennessee got through its opener against Furman without much drama, but the biggest pregame wrinkle came along at center, where returning starter Sam Pendleton was held out after an injury turned up following warm-ups. Josh Heupel said afterward that Pendleton is expected to be ready for the Georgia Tech game, which at least keeps the concern in the short term rather than turning it into something more serious.
Nic Moore stepped in for Pendleton and handled the spot well in his first start, giving Tennessee a workable answer if the situation lingers into next week. Still, center is one of those positions where continuity matters, especially with a bigger test coming up, so the Vols will be watching closely to see whether Pendleton is back in time to restore the line to its intended look. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Has An Early Shot With A Five-Star In-State Prize
Tennessees recent run of high-profile recruiting traffic has kept the program busy, and it has also put an early spotlight on the next wave of talent. Among the visitors were five-star Cayden Daughtry, four-star Micah Gordon and five-star Bentley Lusakueno, a sign that the Volunteers are trying to stay active with elite prospects while building relationships well ahead of signing day.
Now the attention shifts to a younger in-state target with serious upside. Five-star small forward DJ Okoth, ranked No. 17 overall in the class of 2028, has already lined up unofficial visits to Tennessee, Kentucky and Vanderbilt this fall, giving the Vols an opening in a recruitment that is still in its early stages. With multiple offers already in hand, Okoths first round of visits could help shape how quickly Tennessee can move from being an early presence to a real factor. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Heupel's Sam Pendleton Update Should Ease Tennessee Fans
Sam Pendletons absence before kickoff against Furman was one of the quieter developments of Tennessees opener, but it still caught attention because it came so late. The senior center went through warmups before a decision was made to hold him out, and sophomore Nic Moore stepped in to make the start in his place. For a team that leans on stability up front, losing a veteran who started every game last season is never ideal, even against an opponent like Furman.
Josh Heupels update afterward should at least calm some nerves around the situation. The Tennessee coach said he is optimistic Pendleton will be ready for the next game, which matters because the Vols know what they have in him when he is on the field. Pendleton has a track record of strong play at Tennessee and Notre Dame, and if he is back where Tennessee expects him, the offensive line picture looks a lot more settled heading into the next week. [Read more 🡒]