KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Coach Josh Heupel will start Faizon Brandon at quarterback when No. 20 Tennessee opens the season on Sept. 5 against Furman, the second true freshman ever to start a season for the Volunteers and the first since 2004.
How long Brandon stays in the job depends on how he plays.
“We named him the starter because we believe in the work that he has put in and how he’s continued to grow and play throughout training camp and the second week through the second scrimmage,” Heupel said Monday. “He’s earned that right. But just like every position you can consistently evaluate.”
Brandon beat out George MacIntyre, who threw nine passes while backing up Joey Aguilar last season. He joins Brent Schaeffer, who opened the 2004 season as the starting quarterback before another freshman, Erik Ainge, went 7-2 the rest of the season, helping Tennessee go 10-3 and win the Southeastern Conference East title.
Schaeffer transferred after that season.
Heupel said Brandon didn’t do just one thing to earn the starting job. The coach said the freshman has shown control and command of what the Vols do offensively, including with fundamentals, technique, dropping back or on run-pass option plays.
“You look at the total volume of work, and he’s earned the right to start,” Heupel said.
Heupel said he told the Volunteers at a team meeting that Brandon would be the starting quarterback. Tennessee is using this week as a mock preparation for the schedule of a game week. Asked about the timing, Heupel said it was simple: “Just when we came to a conclusion ultimately.”
Other freshmen to start for Tennessee during their first college seasons include Peyton Manning in 1994, Casey Clausen, Tyler Bray, Josh Dobbs and Nico Iamaleava in the 2023 Citrus Bowl.
Brandon threw for 6,374 yards and 79 touchdowns and rushed for 1,261 yards and 21 more scores while helping Grimsley High School in Greensboro, North Carolina, win back-to-back state titles. The 6-foot-4 Brandon was rated the nation’s No. 3 quarterback and No. 10 overall prospect in the 247Sports Composite.
Tennessee goes on the road on Sept. 12 visiting Georgia Tech and then hosts Kennesaw State before the Vols’ first SEC game. Texas visits on Sept. 26.
___
Sign up for Top 25 poll alerts here, visit the Top 25 here and see AP’s full college football coverage here
Heupel names true freshman Faizon Brandon as No. 20 Tennessee’s starting quarterback 2026
IUSTITIA.BG – Investigations 2009-2026 2026-08-24 16:55:14
Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law
