A Freshman Takes the Helm
On August 24, 2024, the University of Tennessee officially named true freshman Faizon Brandon as its starting quarterback, marking the culmination of a rigorous selection process that followed the departure of incumbent Joey Aguilar, whose NCAA injunction was denied in February 2024.
Brandon’s ascent was not guaranteed; he outlasted sophomore George MacIntyre and Colorado transfer Ryan Staub in a tightly contested position battle that coaches said highlighted the depth of the Volunteers’ offense.
The former Grimsley High School star in Greensboro, North Carolina, arrives with a 35‑1 record as a starter, a five‑star rating that places him No. 10 overall and No. 3 among quarterbacks in the 2024 recruiting class.
His arrival continues a trend in which some of the most celebrated passers in Tennessee history — including Peyton Manning — earned the starting role as freshmen, and his debut comes under the guidance of head coach Josh Heupel, whose spread offense has repeatedly ranked among the nation’s top 15 in scoring.
The Volunteers open the season on September 5 against Furman University, entering the contest ranked No. 18 in the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll after a 2023 campaign that yielded eight victories, the lowest total since 2021.
Analysts expect Brandon’s arm strength and poise to keep Tennessee’s offense among the nation’s elite, continuing a lineage of freshman quarterbacks who have thrived in Heupel’s system.