‘Traits reminiscent of Hendon Hooker’ — ESPN details Faizon Brandon’s fit with Tennessee heading into QB battle
The Vols’ star signee is stepping into a big opportunity right off the bat.
The Tennessee Volunteers’ quarterback battle this offseason will take the majority of the spotlight as the new-look Volunteers work to get back to the College Football Playoff in 2026. The Vols will have a number of new faces on the roster and among their coaching staff, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.
However, perhaps the most intriguing new face is 2026 signee QB Faizon Brandon. The incoming five-star freshman brings an elite-level talent to the quarterback room and will compete with fellow former heralded recruit George MacIntyre to become the Vols’ starting quarterback this fall.
While MacIntyre comes in as the likely favorite, two recruiting analysts feel Brandon fits Josh Heupel’s offense like a glove.
ESPN’s Craig Haubert and Tom Luginbill put out their list of how the top 2026 QB and RB recruits for each school fit in with their new school, and they lauded how Brandon’s deep ball ability will mix with Tennessee’s offense.
ESPN says Faizon Brandon’s deep ball is ‘tailor-made’ for Tennessee’s offense
“Tennessee has built a system that asks quarterbacks to push the ball vertically,” Haubert and Luginbill wrote. “Brandon has a big arm, sneaky athleticism and physical traits reminiscent of Hendon Hooker. Though Brandon is not as polished at this stage as Nico Iamaleava, his deep-ball ability is tailor-made for this offense.
“With a Tennessee state judge denying Joey Aguilar an injunction, he is out of eligibility. There is also limited experience elsewhere among the quarterbacks. Brandon could compete sooner than expected. For Vols fans, that arm talent should be exciting.”
We saw again in 2025 with Joey Aguilar how explosive and effective Heupel’s offense can be with the right player running the system. Aguilar and Hooker threw an accurate and catchable ball down the field, and the big plays and points followed suit.
That’s not to say MacIntyre can’t, but Brandon comes with tape that he can throw it deep and throw it accurately, two traits that are hard to ignore.
If Brandon shows up and quickly does appear reminiscent of Hooker, then Tennessee’s quarterback job will be in terrific hands, whether that’s in 2026 or down the road.
Tennessee Volunteers News
‘We would’ve been shouting and hollering until the cows came home’ — Former Tennessee coach Tony Jones calls out Bruce Pearl over recent comments
Jones had a very fair reminder to Pearl about where they came from.
