Tennessee’s quarterback battle is still wide open heading into fall camp, but the noise around Faizon Brandon keeps getting louder.
The Vols are set to break in a new face under center this season, with true freshman Brandon, redshirt freshman George MacIntyre and Colorado transfer Ryan Staub all in the mix. For now, no one has claimed the job. Still, the early chatter has centered on Brandon, the five-star newcomer who has quickly become the name to watch in Josh Heupel’s offense.
That buzz picked up again this week when CBS college football insider Brad Crawford, after speaking with sources around the SEC, singled out Brandon as an SEC freshman to watch in 2026.
“… Brandon’s combination of arm strength, poise and mobility is an ideal fit for Heupel’s aggressive, vertical offense, and sources around the program have been impressed with his rapid ascension since enrolling in January,” Crawford wrote. “His physical gifts have never been in question, but it’s Brandon’s confidence, command and ability to bounce back from mistakes that have accelerated the hype. If he wins the starting job over George MacIntyre during fall camp, don’t be surprised if Brandon becomes one of the SEC’s most impactful freshmen by season’s end.”
Brandon arrives in Knoxville with the kind of recruiting profile that naturally turns heads. Per 247, he was rated a five-star prospect, the No. 3 overall recruit, the No. 3 quarterback and the No. 1 player from North Carolina. He’s from Greensboro, North Carolina, and played at Grimsley.
Heupel made it clear on signing day why Tennessee was so high on him.
“First of all, Faizon’s a great player,” Heupel said on signing day. “We had an opportunity to watch him on the basketball court, extremely explosive, great touch, had great presence and bodies in motion.
You see that on the football tape, obviously as well. He’s played at an elite level for a long time.
His body continued to develop. He’s got a great mind.
He’s extremely quick-minded. You combine all those factors, really excited about having him in the quarterback room and competing next fall.”
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The timing matters because MacIntyre is about to enter a real competition for the starting job, with Faizon Brandon and Colorado transfer Ryan Staub also in the mix. Tennessee set 210 pounds as the target for him, and he is close enough now that the next step is less about the scale and more about how he carries that added size when the pads come on. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessees 2026 Roster Already Looks Different Under New Strength Staff
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The changes are not all in one direction, either. Some players have added size and muscle, while others have trimmed down, including a few names across the defense and along the line. For Tennessee, the real intrigue is how those shifts will show up once camp opens and the roster starts to look less like a spreadsheet and more like a depth chart. [Read more 🡒]