ESPN updated their college football quarterback power rankings, and Tennessee’s Faizon Brandon is finally ranked
Tennessee Volunteers true freshman Faizon Brandon wasn’t ranked in ESPN’s preseason quarterback power rankings.
After not being ranked in ESPN’s preseason college football quarterback power rankings, Tennessee Vols true freshman Faizon Brandon made his debut this week.
ESPN updated its college football quarterback rankings earlier this week (Power-4 teams only), and Brandon is ranked No. 42, three spots ahead of Vanderbilt Commodores true freshman Jared Curtis.
“A five-star true freshman, Brandon did well enough against weaker defenses, but Texas ruthlessly exploited his one-read-and-scramble tendencies last Saturday to the tune of 10 sacks and 18 pressures,” wrote ESPN’s Bill Connelly. “Yards per dropback: 2.8. He’ll probably see Colin Simmons lurking behind every tree on his walks to the practice facility now, but how he shakes off that performance will define Tennessee’s season.”
I’m not sure I totally agree with the “one-read-and-scramble” tendency comment from Connelly. Sure, there were times that happened against Texas, but there were also times when Brandon didn’t have time for more than one read due to poor pass protection. There were also times when Brandon went through his progressions but just didn’t pull the trigger.
Either way, we’ll be looking for the North Carolina native to make a big jump this weekend against Auburn now that he has his first SEC action out of the way.
And in case you’re wondering, Texas quarterback Arch Manning is ranked No. 29 in the updated power rankings after being ranked No. 4 before the season.
