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ESPN evaluates five-star quarterback Faizon Brandon's fit with Tennessee Football

IMG_3593by:Grant Ramey•07/07/25•

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5-star QB commit Faizon Brandon talks with fellow recruits in pre-game

Tennessee Football found a perfect with five-star quarterback commitment Faizon Brandon. More advanced than Hendon Hooker at the same age. More accurate than Joe Milton III.

That’s how ESPN described Brandon, the No. 13 overall prospect in the class of 2026, while breaking down the fit for every committed five-star prospect.

“The departure of Nico Iamaleava could allow Brandon to battle for the starting job sooner rather than later in a very quarterback-friendly system,” ESPN’s Tom Luginbill wrote.

Hooker starred in two seasons at Tennessee in Josh Heupel’s offense, after transferring from Virginia Tech. He threw for 6,080 yards, 58 touchdowns and just five interceptions in 24 games with the Vols.

Faizon Brandon recruiting rankings: No. 13 overall, No. 3 QB, No. 1 NC

Tennessee is starting over at quarterback after Nico Iamaleava left the Vols in April, entering the NCAA Transfer Portal and landing at UCLA. 

Heupel countered by adding Joey Aguilar, the former Appalachian State quarterback who had transferred to UCLA in December, then entered the portal in April after the Bruins added Iamaleava.

This season it will be Aguilar battling redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger and freshman George MacIntyre for the quarterback job this season. 

Brandon, out of Grimsley High School in Greensboro, North Carolina, is the No. 3 quarterback in the class in the On3 Industry Ranking — only Georgia five-star commit Jared Curtis and Texas commit Dia Bell are ranked higher — and is the No. 1 quarterback in the state of North Carolina. 

‘Brandon throws an exceptional deep ball, which is a requirement in (Tennessee’s) scheme’

He committed to the Vols last August, then went on to throw for 2,159 yards with 27 touchdowns and one interception during his junior season. Tennessee was his first Power 4 offer in June 2023 and he visited Knoxville multiple times before announcing his commitment. 

Brandon was the first commitment in the class of 2026 for Tennessee and has helped build the class to 17 commitments. The group, headlined by Brandon, is ranked No. 14 nationally and is No. 6 in the SEC with a class score of 89.90.

“Several recent Volunteers quarterbacks have similar stature, athleticism and arm strength,” Luginbill wrote. “Brandon is more advanced than Hendon Hooker at the same stage and the pair share several traits. Brandon is also much more accurate than Joe Milton.

“While he lacks Iamaleava’s polish at this stage, Brandon throws an exceptional deep ball, which is a requirement in this scheme that loves to attack vertically.”

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