Faizon Brandon joins elite company with 5-TD performance in first career start
By Ethan Stone
Published:
Faizon Brandon didn’t look like a true freshman while leading Tennessee to a 56-9 win over Furman.
The Vols quarterback threw 3 touchdown passes and added 2 rushing touchdowns for good measure, dicing the outmatched Paladins and earning the game ball from head coach Josh Heupel after the game. Keep in mind, he did it across 2 and a half quarters of action, too.
According to the broadcast, Brandon’s Tennessee debut put him in some pretty elite company. Brandon is the first SEC quarterback to throw for 3 touchdowns and rush for 2 touchdowns in their first career start since Cam Newton did it against Arkansas State in 2010.
You know, one of the greatest college football players of all time. That Cam Newton.
Making this semi-shocking stat even more impressive, Brandon is just the 4th FBS quarterback to accomplish the feat. Newton, Nebraska’s Joe Dailey (2004) and BYU’s Bear Bachmeier (2025) also did so in their first career starts.
If you’re wondering, Brandon had more passing yards in his game against Furman than all other quarterbacks to accomplish the feat. The Vols QB completed 13 of his 17 passing attempts for 226 yards. It’s worth noting that Dailey threw for 4 touchdown passes in his 2004 win over Western Illinois.
Brandon will look to build off an excellent start next week as the Vols travel to face Georgia Tech.
Ethan Stone is a Saturday Down South News Editor and an advocate for the return of the Seattle Supersonics.
