Josh Heupel makes a decision on Tennessee’s starting quarterback, and it’s not going to be 2004 all over again
The Vols are turning to a true freshman again, but this situation feels different.
The wait is finally over for Tennessee Vols fans. The next starting signal caller for for the Big Orange has finally been determined.
On Monday morning, Tennessee announced true freshman Faizon Brandon as their starting quarterback for the 2026 season.
Tennessee names true freshman Faizon Brandon as starting QB
Brandon had seemed to have his nose out in front in the competition since the spring over redshirt freshman George MacIntyre, but it was a competition that stayed close enough that observers couldn’t really give Brandon enough of an edge to say he had a strong upper hand. The most recent scrimmage comments from insiders indicated Brandon had a better day, but it still didn’t seem as convincing an edge as Joey Aguilar held last year over Jake Merklinger either.
Now, for the first time since the 2004 season, the Vols will be handing the keys to the offense to a true freshman. Tennessee started off the 2004 season with two promising true freshmen in Brent Schaeffer and Erik Ainge. Schaeffer started off the year against UNLV, becoming the first true freshman in the SEC to start at QB since 1945.
However, it was Ainge who ended up taking over the starting job later in the season before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury against Notre Dame. Ainge would end up as the Vols’ starting QB in 2006 and 2007. Schaeffer transferred to Ole Miss, where he appeared in 18 games from 2006-07.
That all being said, Brandon appears to have the upside, both with his arm and his legs, to be even more of an impact player than any true freshman signal caller that Tennessee had in 2004, and perhaps one of the best ever to come to Knoxville. A five-star signee out of Greensboro, NC, Brandon has the deep ball touch and athleticism to make plays in Josh Heupel’s offense.
We’ll find out soon enough how his first start goes, with the Vols set to take on Furman next Saturday, Sept. 5, at Neyland Stadium.
