5-star Vols' QB commit Faizon Brandon accepts invite to the Polynesian Bowl
Elite 2026 Tennessee Volunteers quarterback commitment Faizon Brandon was recently named the Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of North Carolina after a stellar Junior Season. On Thursday afternoon, Brandon announced his commitment to the 2026 Polynesian Bowl.
Brandon, the No.6 prospect in the On3 Industry Rankings for the class, has had another strong campaign at Grimsley High School (N.C.) in 2024.
The five-star has led the Whirlies to a 14-0 record on the season, and on Thursday night, they will play Weddington High School for a chance to play in the State Championship.
Brandon has completed 141 of 186 attempts this fall for 2,374 yards and 30 touchdowns to just one interception.
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He has added another 582 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground for the Whirlies on less than 70 attempts.
Brandon tells Volquest he is set to visit Knoxville this Saturday following his playoff game.
The date and time for the 2026 Polynesian Bowl has not yet been set.
The Scout on Brandon
“Faizon Brandon is a guy that we have known about for some time playing at a talent-producing high school in North Carolina,” On3’s Director of Scouting and Recruiting Rankings Charles Power told Volquest in August. “He is one we have known about even before he became a full-time starter at Grimsley. He was working into the mix as a backup and you could see as a freshman how talented he was. He took over that full-time role as a sophomore, and I think for me, it was the combination of physical talent, arm talent, and his athleticism. I think among the top quarterbacks in 2026 when we were creating that initial On300, I went back and forth, but I really thought his upside and his athleticism combined with the arm talent and what he had put on film as a sophomore as a full-time starter kind of gave him the nod. I think we were the first ones to rank him as a No.1 quarterback in the 26 cycle. It seems like right now, he is the industry-rated top guy. I feel good where we are at with that, and since that time, he has only shown really well this off-season. We got to see him at multiple exposures at camps, and he showed really well.”
