Tennessee Freshmen Just Gave Vols Fans A New Ratings Debate

Discover how Tennessee's newest recruits, including Faizon Brandon and TK Keys, fare in the latest update of the College Football 27 video game.

College Football 27 finally gave Tennessee’s freshmen their first ratings this week, and the update puts a spotlight on a few names Vols fans have been waiting to see in the game.

The headliner is starting quarterback Faizon Brandon, who comes in at 80 overall. Brandon’s package is built around his movement skills, with 88 speed, 87 agility and 85 change of direction. He also gets a 92 injury rating and 72 awareness, while his strength is listed at 69.

Wide receiver TK Keys is among the freshmen included in the update, but he is not the only Tennessee newcomer to make the cut. The game also assigned ratings to a long list of Vols freshmen across the roster, from the offensive line to the secondary.

Here’s how the Tennessee freshmen who are in the game were rated to start the year:

QB Faizon Brandon - 80 overall
88 speed, 69 strength, 87 agility, 85 change of direction, 92 injury, 72 awareness

REDG Breeze Carter - 76 overall
83 speed, 77 strength, 83 agility, 79 change of direction, 85 injury, 80 awareness

RG Ed Baker - 75 overall
68 speed, 91 strength, 65 agility, 58 change of direction, 86 injury, 58 awareness

LT Kamari Blair - 75 overall
71 speed, 82 strength, 74 agility, 61 change of direction, 90 injury, 71 awareness

REDG Zach Groves - 75 overall
79 speed, 81 strength, 62 agility, 64 change of direction, 87 injury, 71 awareness

LEDG Kedric Golston II - 74 overall
84 speed, 69 strength, 84 agility, 76 change of direction, 92 injury, 66 awareness

P Logan Foley - 74 overall
66 speed, 54 strength, 72 agility, 72 change of direction, 92 injury, 52 awareness

LB TJ White - 74 overall
87 speed, 81 strength, 81 agility, 79 change of direction, 91 injury, 71 awareness

LT Gabriel Osenda - 73 overall
60 speed, 88 strength, 57 agility, 52 change of direction, 91 injury, 70 awareness

DT Darryl Rivers - 72 overall
62 speed, 76 strength, 70 agility, 66 change of direction, 92 injury, 59 awareness

DT Dereon Albert - 71 overall
67 speed, 83 strength, 67 agility, 61 change of direction, 89 injury, 61 awareness

FS KJ McClain - 67 overall
91 speed, 49 strength, 87 agility, 85 change of direction, 88 injury, 64 awareness

WR Brayden Carroll - 65 overall
87 speed, 68 strength, 83 agility, 77 change of direction, 92 injury, 68 awareness

Not every Tennessee freshman made it into the update, though. Among the notable Vols left off the initial list are linebacker Brayden Rouse, wide receiver Tyreek King, defensive back Joel Wyatt, tight end Luca Wolf and others.

Players not listed: WR Tyreek King, DB Jamyan Theodore, DL JJ Finch, LB Brayden Rouse, DB Javonte SMith, WR JaColby Cooper, DB Joel Wyatt, WR Lane Cope, DB Zay Anderson, RB Will Rajecki, DL Carter Gooden, DB Jowell Combay, OL Thomas Storm, OL Jeremey George-El, DL CJ Edwards, WR Luke Thompson, TE Luca Wolf, DL Nuk Simmons, DL Hezekiah Harris.

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