A five-star wins the job
Faizon Brandon has won Tennessee’s starting quarterback competition, multiple outlets reported on Monday. The true freshman beat out sophomore George MacIntyre and will start the Volunteers’ opener against Furman in Knoxville on Sept. 5.
Brandon arrived in Knoxville as one of the most decorated recruits in the country. The 247Sports composite ranked him the No. 3 quarterback and the No. 10 overall player in the Class of 2026. He stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 225 pounds.
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What he did in high school
Brandon threw for more than 6,300 yards and 79 touchdowns at Grimsley High School in Greensboro, North Carolina. His teams went 35-1 across three seasons with him starting and won two state titles. Those numbers explain why Tennessee handed the job to a freshman over a returning player.
MacIntyre had the head start. The 6-foot-6 sophomore played two games for the Volunteers last season and completed seven of nine passes for 69 yards. He arrived as a consensus four-star recruit in the Class of 2025. He now backs up a quarterback a year younger than him.
The opener and after
Tennessee open the season ranked No. 20. Furman visits Knoxville on Sept. 5, which gives Brandon a controlled first outing before the schedule tightens. Starting a true freshman at quarterback in the SEC carries obvious risk, and Tennessee have decided the ceiling justifies it.
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