Josh Heupel offers early impressions of Faizon Brandon, other quarterbacks
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Tennessee coach Josh Heupel met with reporters on Thursday to discuss the Vols’ progress during spring practice.
Heupel was asked about true freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon, who signed with the Vols as a 5-star prospect this offseason. Heupel was complimentary of Brandon while also emphasizing that he still has plenty of room to grow in key areas.
“For a true freshman, getting here in January … he’s been really sound in what he’s done,” Heupel said. “The pass game, certainly. There’s a lot on our quarterbacks in the run game too. That’s an area that at times can be the hardest part for our quarterbacks. But he’s continued to progress in that. There’s still a lot left for him and everybody in that room for us to do what we need to.
“But as a true freshman, certainly pleased with what he’s done up to this point.”
Brandon may not start for Tennessee in 2026, but he’s certainly expected to be a big part of the Vols’ future at quarterback. He finished the 2026 recruiting cycle as the No. 10 overall player in the nation, per 247Sports Composite rankings.
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Heupel was also pleased with Tennessee‘s entire quarterback room as the team ramps up in spring ball. George MacIntrye and Ryan Staub have been competing with Brandon for the starting job as Joey Aguilar remains ineligible per NCAA rules.
“In general, I’ve been really pleased with their decision-making,” Heupel said. “Taking care of the football. There’s been a couple of things where they’ve maybe not seen it right … There’s a couple things that each of them have to continue to grow in but that’s spring ball.”
Tennessee will hold its spring game on April 11.
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
