Insider explains how Tennessee landed 5-star QB Faizon Brandon: 'He fell in love with the place'

Another cycle, another splash in the world of quarterback recruiting for Tennessee.

A massive push from head coach Josh Heupel, offensive coordinator Joey Halzle and Co. paid off in a major way on Saturday, as Greensboro (N.C.) Grimsley five-star QB Faizon Brandon announced his pledge to the Volunteers.

“I started feeling Tennessee a while ago,” Brandon 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.”

On3’s No. 1 gunslinger in the junior class, Brandon becomes the latest win amidst an absurd run of recruiting under center in Knoxville. How did the Vols do it? Tennessee recruiting insider Austin Price points to multiple reasons, dating back to Brandon’s first time on Rocky Top.

“He fell in love with the place and so did his family. His mom told me that she kind of new that first trip to Knoxville, when he camped back in June 2023, she’s like ‘I just felt this place was special.’ Got to know coach Halzle, coach Heupel, coach Militello, just fell in love with it,” Price told On3’s Josh Newberg.

“They kept coming back. They were there multiple times last summer, multiple games last fall, multiple times since the first of the year. Got there at the end of July and told the coaching staff this past weekend that he was headed for Knoxville and they were super stoked.”

Brandon the latest example of Vols’ successful QB recruiting strategy

Brandon’s commitment makes four consecutive cycles that Tennessee has landed a blue-chip QB who ranks as one of the top 15 signal-callers in the On3 Industry Ranking. Point blank, the QB room in Knoxville is likely set for years to come.

“Stacking arms is right,” Price said. “Nico (Iamaleava), to Jake Merklinger, to George MacIntyre, now to Faizon Brandon — who again, just turned 16. There are other quarterbacks in his class that are almost 18. This kid is young and his best football is still ahead of him.”

“Tennessee has done a nice job of identifying, building relationships and working to get those kids in the boat. It’s been really impressive to see how Joey Halzle has transformed from just a quarterbacks coach to now an offensive coordinator who knows how to develop and recruit quarterbacks as well.”

What is Tennessee getting in Faizon Brandon? According to On3 Director of Scouting and Rankings Charles Power, Brandon “is one of the more gifted athletes among the top 2026 quarterbacks.” Price echoes just that, comparing the junior to Tennessee’s incoming starter this season.

“Much like Nico, he is a quarterback that can make plays with his feet, but ultimately he’s a thrower. He’s a smart, heady kid, has good velocity on his fastball when he’s throwing it and needs to fit in into a tight window, but also has touch,” Price said. “He kind of does a little bit of everything well.”