Heupel and staff add another highly-rated QB
Vols’ Head Coach Josh Heupel and his staff have been putting in work this summer for, mostly, the 2025 class that’s recently leapt into the sixth spot nationally and fourth in the SEC. But Heupel and offensive coordinator/ QB coach Joey Halzle also locked down their QB for 2026 in five-star, No. 1 overall player (via 247) in the country Faizon Brandon.
He picked Tennessee at his high school today via a YouTube stream on the 247 Sports’ channel over Alabama, NC State and LSU.
Brandon, a Greensboro, NC native, is the latest in a string of highly-rated quarterbacks that the coaching staff has snagged, and while QBs tend to commit earlier than other position groups, Brandon’s decision came even earlier than what’s typical.
RS-FR and soon-to-be starting QB Nico Iamaleava — a former five-star and the No. 2 player nationally — publicly committed in March of 2022 and enrolled in December as a part of the 2023 recruiting class. Four-star prospect and 11th-ranked QB in the country Jake Merklinger committed in March of 2023 and enrolled in January of ‘24, and then this year, Tennessee native George MacIntyre, committed in January as UT’s 2025 QB. MacIntyre was a five-star and second-highest rated QB in the country at the time of his pledge, though he’s since dropped some in the rankings. Brandon’s addition to the QB room gives the Vols one of, if not the best quarterback rooms in the country.
If Brandon’s ranking holds steady — and he stays committed — he would be the second QB to be ranked in the country’s top-five players since Heupel took the job in 2021.
Here is 247 Sports’ Director of Scouting Andrew Ivin’s latest report on Brandon from 4/21/24:
Ascending signal caller that possesses a rare blend of pocket-passer size and dual-threat athleticism to go along with a high-powered arm. Had as good of a sophomore season as any of the 2026 quarterbacks, ranking first in a number of key statistical categories (completion percentage, yards per attempt and turnover rate). Rhythmic as a passer, getting the ball out fast and to his playmakers. Likes to stay on schedule with his clean footwork and shows poise in the face of pressure. Accurate to the numbers, and has found plenty of success attacking the intermediate level, but deep ball placement can be a bit uneven. Effective on designed runs with his acceleration and his natural twitch in both the upper and lower halves is ideal for run-pass options. Certainly benefited from throwing to a pair of Power Four wide receivers in his first year as a starter, but game tape shows a potential game-breaker at the next level that’s just starting to scratch the surface of what he could be, especially when you factor that he’s younger for the grade.
The young QB — currently listed at 6-3, 197 pounds — obviously has a lot more to show, given that he’s been his HS team’s starter for just one year, but his stats were pretty gaudy: 3,026 passing yards with a nearly 70-percent completion number, 41 total TDs, 3 picks and 528 rushing yards with a 13-1 record. Brandon is from the same area in North Carolina as Hendon Hooker and has spent time working with Hooker’s personal QB coach, per 247’s Tom Loy.
247 has him rated as the No. 1 overall prospect, but their composite rankings have him ranked 30th overall and the No. 4 QB in the country. I’m sure we’ll see his ranking move around even more before he gets on campus, but still — a major win for Heupel and staff to get their man this early.