KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel kicked off the Volunteers’ mock game week by naming true freshman Faizon Brandon as UT’s starting quarterback for its season opener against Furman on Sept. 5.
Heupel held his weekly press conference Monday and discussed the staff’s decision following three weeks of preseason camp and two scrimmages.
“First of all, the entire group has worked and competed extremely hard, but you know, I think something that sticks out is, we break in May for a few weeks of vacation, and he’s in the building,” Heupel said. “Whether that’s in the weight room, whether that’s in the video room, walking through things on the turf in our indoor, working on fundamentals. That type of mentality, attitude is a tribute to him and his growth. That’s why he’s continued to grow as fast as he has.”
Brandon, a native of Greensboro, North Carolina, produced a 35-1 record as a starter at Grimsley High School. He’s won 22 straight games as a starter dating back to the beginning of his junior season of 2024. Brandon will be the Vols’ first true freshman starting quarterback in an opener since Brent Schaeffer did versus UNLV on Sept. 5, 2004.
Tennessee will practice through the week before turning its attention to a real opponent. Kickoff on Sept. 5 is slated for 3:30 p.m. ET from Neyland Stadium.
