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How 5-star QB Faizon Brandon helped build Tennessee football signing class
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- How 5-star QB Faizon Brandon helped build Tennessee football signing class
Tennessee football coach Josh Heupel said five-star quarterback Faizon Brandon was among the Vols' most effective recruiters in landing a top-10 class .
"Anytime you're able to get a quarterback at that level and made of the right things, he's able to develop relationships with guys and attract them," Heupel said on Dec. 3, the first day of the early signing period.
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"He was able to do that in this recruiting class on both sides of the football."
Brandon was the first commitment of UT's 2026 signing class , pledging to the Vols in August 2024. That didn't lessen the celebration when he signed with UT as the centerpiece of the class.
The quarterback brought plenty of highly-touted wide receivers with him. Five-star Tristen Keys, four-star Tyreek King (from Knox Catholic ) and four-star Legend Bey , who flipped from Ohio State to Tennessee , all signed with the Vols.
Of course, wide receivers coach Kelsey Pope deserves much of the credit for landing those receivers, but Brandon's presence certainly helped.
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Brandon is a 6-foot-4, 206-pounder from Greensboro, North Carolina. He is a five-star recruit who chose Tennessee over Alabama , LSU and North Carolina State. He also got scholarship offers from Ohio State, Georgia, Miami, Michigan , Oklahoma , Oregon , Texas A&M and many others.
What Josh Heupel loves about Faizon Brandon's skillset
Brandon is ranked the No. 3 quarterback and No. 7 player overall in the 2026 class, according to 247Sports Composite, which combines the ratings of the leading recruiting services.
He is ranked the No. 2 overall player in the 2026 class in the 247Sports ratings alone without factoring in other recruiting sites. ESPN and Rivals rank Brandon as the No. 3 and No. 4 quarterback, respectively.
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Brandon has all the tools that UT covets to run Heupel's high-powered offense.
He has a strong and accurate arm, completing 72% of his passes for 6,374 yards and 79 TDs in his high school career. And he has mobility to run the ball and escape pressure, rushing for 1,261 yards and 21 TDs. Brandon has a 33-1 record as a starter.
"Faizon is a great player. We had an opportunity to see him on the basketball court. (He is) extremely explosive, great touch, great presence," Heupel said. "You see that on the football tape obviously, as well. He has 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.
"When you combine all those factors, (we are) really excited to have him in the quarterback room and competing next fall."
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How Faizon Brandon compares to Nico Iamaleava , George MacIntyre
Brandon is Tennessee latest blue-chip quarterback that Heupel hopes can turn into a successful starter.
Highly touted quarterback recruits have had mixed results for UT in recent years.
Five-star quarterback Nico Iamaleava started for a College Football Playoff team in 2024, but he transferred to UCLA after an NIL dispute and before he could reach his potential.
Four-star quarterback Tayven Jackson transferred in 2023 before making an impact for UT. Current backup quarterback Jake Merklinger , a former four-star recruit, might be headed for the same fate, although he hasn't announced his plans. The transfer portal opens on Jan. 2.
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Four-star quarterback George MacIntyre developed in the 2025 season as a freshman. He could be in the competition for the starting job in 2026, depending on who UT adds or retains at the position.
Transfer quarterbacks have started for Tennessee in four of Heupel's five seasons.
Virginia Tech transfer Hendon Hooker broke passing records in 2021 and 2022, earning SEC Player of the Year in the latter season. Michigan transfer Joe Milton was the 2022 Orange Bowl MVP, and he led the Vols to a 9-4 season in 2023. UCLA transfer Joey Aguilar , a former Appalachian State standout, has passed for 3,444 yards this season, the fourth-most in UT history, with a bowl game still ahead.
Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com . X, formerly known as Twitter @AdamSparks . Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe .
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Faizon Brandon: 5-star QB helped build Tennessee football signing class
