Tennessee Vols fans all seem to have the same concern going into next Saturday’s game against the Texas Longhorns.

Is the passing game good enough?

We haven’t really seen the Vols air it out through the first three games of the season as Tennessee has relied heavily on its running game.

The Vols have rushed for 896 yards in three games (Tennessee has passed for 635 yards).

This has mostly been by design as the Vols are taking what the defense gives them. That’s meant fewer deep shots in the throw game.

But Tennessee hasn’t played an SEC opponent yet, which is why fans are concerned about whether the Vols’ passing game is good enough to beat an opponent like Texas.

Tennessee true freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon, though, doesn’t sound concerned at all.

“I feel we’ve got a pretty good rhythm going into SEC play,” said Brandon of the Vols’ passing game after the win against Kennesaw State on Saturday night.

Brandon added that hitting deep shots — especially early in games — is an important part of Tennessee’s offense.

“I feel like it is really important,” said Brandon of hitting deep shots. “It kind of sets the tone of the game depending on what is going on. I feel like it’s really important to hit those big shots.”

I think Tennessee has confidence in its passing game, I just don’t think they’ve really needed it to this point (and it’s not like they haven’t taken deep shots — there just haven’t been as many so far as some fans and analysts expected).

Brandon has played well early this season, but the game against Texas will be his toughest test yet.

The North Carolina native, however, is feeling good about where he’s at early in his SEC career.

“I feel like I am at a pretty good spot right now,” said Brandon. “There’s definitely a lot of different things I can work on. If I just need to continue to not try to do anything extra and take what the defense gives me, and continue to extend plays when things aren’t there. There are certain things I can work on. That’s why I just need to keep on taking what the defense is giving me.”

Brandon has shown remarkable poise and maturity through the first three games of his college career, but things will get kicked up a notch next Saturday against the Longhorns.