Tennessee’s 18‑year‑old freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon made an immediate impact in his Volunteers debut, guiding the 18th‑ranked team to a decisive victory over Furman at Neyland Stadium.
Brandon completed 13 of 17 passes for 226 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions, while adding 68 rushing yards and two scores on the ground. He connected with tight end Ethan Davis on a 17‑yard strike, and later found Mike Matthews on 55‑yard and 57‑yard touchdowns, and also punched in a 6‑yard option keeper and a 7‑yard quarterback draw.
His performance tied a University of Tennessee freshman record for total touchdowns in a single game and made him the fourth quarterback since 1995 to record three passing and two rushing touchdowns, joining Joshua Dobbs, Joe Milton and Justin Worley. At 18 years, three months and four days, Brandon became the youngest starter in program history and the first true freshman to open the season since Brent Schaeffer in 2004.
Looking Ahead
The excitement surrounding Brandon’s dual‑threat ability has already sparked optimism among fans and analysts, who see his versatility as a cornerstone for the Vols’ upcoming challenges. Tennessee will next travel to face Georgia Tech on September 12 at 7 p.m. ET, a matchup that will test the freshman’s readiness against a seasoned opponent.