Tennessee football fans, brace yourselves: the future of Rocky Top is flashing before our eyes in the form of a quarterback like no other. Five-star phenom Faizon Brandon, the top-rated signal-caller in the Class of 2026, has pledged his future to the Volunteers—and his words are lighting a fire that promises to blaze through Summer 2025 and into next season.
Brandon’s decision to commit to Tennessee didn’t come out of the blue—it was a love story in the making. Recruited early, the Greensboro, North Carolina standout felt an immediate connection with the Vols and their coaching staff. “I started feeling Tennessee a while ago,” he told On3. “They started recruiting me early, and the first impression they made on me was unlike any other. The staff recruited me hard from the get‑go, they kept it steady with me and they pushed so hard to get me. All of that made an impact on why I picked them
That first impression has grown into an unshakeable bond. “It just felt like home. From the beginning, I liked it a lot at Tennessee … I kept getting that good feeling every time I was there,” Brandon explained. “It wasn’t an easy decision, but I knew it was Tennessee. The feeling for them was different and it never changed.”
A quarterback is only as good as the system he’s in and the coaches around him—and Brandon has openly praised Tennessee’s architecture built around developing elite signal-callers.
He singles out head coach Josh Heupel and offensive coordinator Joey Halzle as instrumental figures. “Coach Heupel is great at what he does, and everyone wants to follow him… He played quarterback, knows what quarterbacks want, what they need, and how to develop them. The development under coach Heupel makes me feel like I can become a great player under him and the staff.”
Equally high praise goes to Halzle: “He knows how to teach the offense and make sure his quarterbacks understand. He makes it easy to learn and I really like how he teaches and talks to his players. It is going to be fun to work with him and learn from him.”
In addition, Brandon emphasized the depth of his relationships across the board: “From head coach, coach Heup to coach Joey to the assistant quarterback coach, coach Mitch (Militello). I have a great relationship with all of them. I just feel like this is the perfect fit for me and I know I’m going to be developed here and pushed to my best.” he saw a program with momentum, vision, and grit.
“Heupel is building the team to compete with the best,” Brandon said. “The players are coming in with the right mindset and that is going to pay off. Tennessee makes their players earn everything and I love the mind‑set of the team and the program. Coach Heupel and the whole staff has a great plan. They know what it takes to win and Tennessee is going to up there as one of the best very soon.”
He then painted a vivid image of what lies ahead: “The environment and fan base at Tennessee are surreal. I have been to three games and the stadium is loud and the fans are intense. The fans love the players and are really behind the team. I love it there and it will be so cool to play in front of fans like that.
Comparisons to elite NFL stars are never made lightly, but Brandon has already likened his on-field persona to the best.
At the Atlanta regional for Elite 11, he shared, “I would say I try to… I know, I can’t run like Lamar Jackson and stuff, but I try to do that, and I try to be like a playmaker like Patrick Mahomes. So, kind of mix of those two, try to model my game after that.”
His performance on the recruiting circuit has backed up the words. Invited to compete at the nationwide Elite 11 finals—after a dominant showing in Atlanta—he impressed by completing nearly every throw and proving he’s deadly accurate at every level . Such performance earned him a finalist spot among the nation’s top 20 senior QBs.
Commitments at Brandon’s level often come with whispers of flips and program changes. Not for him. In January he reaffirmed his allegiance: “I don’t plan on going anywhere,” he told Rivals, adding, “I’m working on… getting more kids committed to Tennessee so we can have a great program.”
He emphatically stated again later: “Tennessee is the place I want to be, so I really don’t want to talk to anyone else.”
He even turned away a jaw-dropping $6.5 million NIL offer from Alabama to remain “100 percent locked in” with UT.
Brandon’s arrival at Tennessee is still over a year away, but the wide interest and long-term investment in him signal the Vols are building for sustained quarterback excellence. He’s part of a quarterback pipeline featuring Nico Iamaleava, Jake Merklinger, and George MacIntyre—players expected to push each other while competing at the highest level
That competition doesn’t unsettle Brandon—it motivates him. He sees himself stepping into a challenging environment and flourishing under pressure.
Here’s what Tennessee fans should tune into this summer:
Elite 11 Finals (June 17–19) – Brandon is set to showcase his talents in LA, a proving ground for future college stars .Continued Mentorship – Expect ongoing Zooms, workouts, and visits with Heupel, Halzle, and Militello as they refine his game.Campus Bonds – Reports have him strengthening ties in Knoxville—not just with coaches but with fellow Vol commits.Skill Development – Summer is critical for mechanics, timing, and mental approaches—a Vol-designed offseason filled with quarterback workshops, film breakdowns, and tailored training.
When Faizon Brandon talks, Vol fans should listen. His commitment is more than words—it’s a roadmap to a new era in Knoxville, one grounded in elite coaching, a winning culture, and unshakeable loyalty.
He promises hard work, big-time performances, and a bold vision: “Tennessee is going to be one of the best very soon.” Consider that a forecast. The Vols are stacking high-end talent and trust. That trust will be rewarded on Fall Saturdays at Neyland Stadium, where a new era is dawning—led by a kid who is already saying exactly what fans long to hear:
