Josh Heupel evaluates Faizon Brandon’s Week 4 performance against Texas
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Josh Heupel knows that Faizon Brandon is a true freshman quarterback being thrown in the SEC fire, which is a huge challenge for somebody who doesn’t have any collegiate experience.
Brandon won Tennessee‘s starting job in fall camp, and he led the Volunteers to easy victories in each of his first 3 games, albeit against lesser competition. Furman, Georgia Tech and Kennesaw State were the teams that Brandon had his first crack at as a college quarterback, and he passed those tests, throwing for a combined 6 touchdowns and 0 interceptions.
He added 3 rushing touchdowns in those first 3 games, but playing those teams and playing the No. 1 team in the country are 2 different things. That discrepancy definitely showed last Saturday afternoon in Week 4 as Brandon and the Vols’ offense struggled mightily to put up points in a 20-17 home loss against Texas.
The game was there for the taking, with the Longhorns being slowed down, too, by that Tennessee defense. But the Vols, and specifically Brandon, couldn’t take advantage. Brandon finished 17 of 29 for 145 yards with 1 touchdown and, again, 0 interceptions, as Brandon has managed to stay from the picks so far in Year 1.
But Brandon only rushed for 2 yards against the Horns defense, and his QBR for the day was a dismal 55.8. It was a true learning experience for the true freshman, and on Monday during his session with reporters Heupel broke down Brandon’s performance.
“Well, I think going back to not reckless decisions. But in Saturday’s game, there’s windows and opportunities, timing, whatever it might be where some of those things he’s got to let rip, things that he saw and things that maybe he missed. But that’s a part of growing as a quarterback,” Josh Heupel said.
Brandon will try to bounce back in Week 5 at home against Auburn on Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN). Here is what the Kalshi market is currently saying about Brandon’s chances to lead Tennessee to that much-needed victory after the home loss to Texas:
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
