Faizon Brandon stepped into the spotlight Saturday afternoon when Tennessee needed him most.
The freshman was thrust into action in College Station after George MacIntyre went down with an injury in the Week 11 SEC matchup against Texas A&M. At the time, the Volunteers were in a tight spot, trailing 7-6 midway through the third quarter and trying to keep their College Football Playoff hopes alive against a Texas A&M team looking to spoil things at home.
MacIntyre, who had already taken over as Tennessee’s starter earlier this season after Brandon, had to exit the game. That opened the door for Brandon to get back under center and help steady the offense.
He didn’t attempt a pass on the first drive after MacIntyre’s injury, but he still made an impact. Brandon picked up 4 yards on one run and 5 on another during an 11-play, 66-yard march that ended with Cooper Ranvier’s 32-yard field goal. That kick put Tennessee in front 9-7 with 1:21 left in the third quarter.
There was still plenty of football left, but Brandon had already helped settle the Vols after the injury scare.
And he wasn’t done.
After Tennessee forced a Texas A&M punt early in the fourth quarter, Brandon returned to the field for the next possession, a sign that MacIntyre’s injury was serious enough to keep him sidelined. On that drive, Brandon delivered again, finding DaSaahn Brame for a 5-yard touchdown pass that stretched the lead to 16-7 with 9:38 remaining.
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