Despite the quarterback drama this offseason in Knoxville, Tennessee, not all is bleak. A fierce offseason recruiting push has resulted in the Volunteers’ potential “QB of the future” after signing 2026 QB Faizon Brandon.
Brandon looks like a talented quarterback waiting in the wings for the Tennessee Volunteers. ESPN analyst Tom Luginbill detailed how he fits with Josh Heupel’s program.
Tennessee Volunteers QB Commit Faizon Brandon Brings Familiar Tools to Rocky Top
As the 2025 college football offseason rolls on, 2026 Tennessee QB commit Faizon Brandon is attending the Elite 11 Finals camp, aiming to solidify himself as one of the best recruits in the nation.
“Tennessee’s scheme is plug-and-play friendly and fits Brandon’s big arm and sneaky mobility,” Luginbill wrote Tuesday. “There’s a clear trend emerging in Knoxville when it comes to quarterback traits in terms of stature, athleticism, and arm strength. Brandon checks all three boxes.”
“He’s very similar to former Vols standout Hendon Hooker and is further along developmentally than Hooker was at Brandon’s age,” he explained.
Hooker, who, like Brandon, is from Greensboro, N.C., helped Tennessee back to the national stage during his two seasons with the program. He started 22 of the 24 games he played for the Volunteers.
“Though not quite as polished as Nico Iamaleava coming out of high school, Brandon throws a great deep ball, which Tennessee coach Josh Heupel requires from all his quarterbacks,” Luginbill said. “By the time he arrives on campus, it’s likely that at least one quarterback currently on the Tennessee roster will have hit the transfer portal.”
247Sports Director of Scouting Andrew Ivins compares Brandon to Las Vegas Raiders passer Geno Smith. Brandon was North Carolina’s Gatorade Player of the Year, leading Grimsley to a 16-0 mark and a state championship. He passed for 2,814 yards, 35 touchdowns, and all of two interceptions.
“Enters senior season with a near-flawless resume having posted a 29-1 record as a starter while completing a Top247-best 72.5 percent of his passes with 71 touchdowns to go against just five interceptions,” Ivins said in a scouting report.
“Should be viewed as one of the top overall prospects in the 2026 cycle and the type of signal-caller that can be the catalyst for multiple College Football Playoff runs,” he continues.
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Brandon also considered Alabama, LSU, and NC State before landing on Tennessee as his destination. The Volunteers extended Brandon his first Power Four offer in June of 2023. He visited Knoxville at least seven times after the camp, where he received that opportunity.
“For them to be recruiting me for such a long time was such a big piece in everything,” Brandon said after committing. “Building those connections is one of the things that has made them stand out. All the relationships there, that’s what made it the place for me.”
Brandon might still have one season remaining of high school football. Still, if his development this far is any indication, he could be one of the SEC’s best QBs in a couple of seasons, potentially bringing the Volunteers back to college football greatness.
