The rise of Faizon Brandon is moving fast.
Tennessee’s five-star freshman quarterback was already in the spotlight after being named the Volunteers’ starting quarterback on Monday morning, and now he’s picked up another preseason nod. On Wednesday, Brandon landed among the 37 players on the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award Watch List, which goes to the most outstanding freshman in college football.
The award’s timeline is already mapped out. Fourteen semifinalists will be announced Nov. 4, followed by five finalists on Dec.
- The winner will be revealed Dec. 28, and the award will be handed out at the 90th Maxwell Awards ceremony on March 13, 2027, in Atlanta.
It’s named for former Alabama running back Shaun Alexander, who starred for the Crimson Tide as a redshirt-freshman in 1997.
This is the second major preseason recognition Brandon has collected. On Tuesday, shortly after Tennessee named him the starter, he was also included on On3’s Preseason True Freshman All-America Team.
Josh Heupel said Brandon’s offseason work is what gave Tennessee confidence to turn the offense over to him. That showing carried into the Vols’ two fall camp scrimmages, and the decision came two days later.
“I don’t think there’s just one thing,” Heupel said. “At times people want to say, is there one focal point that changed it?
I think in all, his control, command of what we’re doing offensively - that’s in run game, the RPO game, the drop-back, play action - combine that with fundamentals, technique, pocket awareness, you put all those things together, decision-making, taking care of the football while still allowing his playmakers to make plays down the field. You look at the total volume of work, and he’s earned the right start.”
In Other News...
Vols Just Landed A Recruit Ohio State Fans Wanted Badly
Tennessees recruiting momentum got a major boost with the commitment of five-star running back David Gabriel-Georges, a prized 2027 prospect who had been one of the more closely watched names in a competitive race. The Baylor School standout, who plays in Chattanooga, already made a loud first impression this fall with three touchdowns and 261 yards of total offense in his senior debut, and his profile has only grown as the recruiting spotlight has intensified.
Gabriel-Georges arrives with plenty of national buzz, including a ranking from ESPN as the No. 2 running back in his class and praise from Texas quarterback Arch Manning. For Tennessee, landing him means fending off a serious push from Ohio State and keeping one of the top in-state talents close to home, a win that should resonate well beyond this recruiting cycle. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee's Backfield Is Creating Buzz Heupel Rarely Gives
Josh Heupel does not usually hand out that kind of praise lightly, which is why his comments about Tennessees 2026 running back room stood out. The Vols are bringing back DeSean Bishop after a 1,000-yard season, and he now has a deeper supporting cast around him with sophomores Daune Morris and Justin Baker, plus Tulane transfer Javin Gordon joining the mix.
Heupel said the groups offseason growth has been evident, and their work in preseason camp has only added to the optimism. For a coach who tends to keep the focus on the next practice rather than the next big projection, the idea that this backfield could be the best he has had at Tennessee is a notable benchmark, especially with more of the season still ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Just Lost A New Frontcourt Piece Before The Season
Jalen Washington had looked like a useful frontcourt addition for Tennessee after transferring in from Vanderbilt, bringing a track record that suggested he could give the Volunteers some dependable minutes inside. He averaged 8.9 points and 5.6 rebounds in his previous season, and the expectation around Knoxville was that he would settle in as a rotational piece for a team trying to deepen its frontcourt before the year began.
Instead, Washington is currently unable to play because of a legal dispute involving the NCAA and a temporary injunction, and the latest court ruling only tightened the uncertainty. A Tennessee court granted an extraordinary appeal and stayed the trial court order that had allowed him to suit up, leaving his status for the upcoming season in serious doubt and stripping the Volunteers of one of their newest interior options before he ever took the floor. [Read more 🡒]