In another huge recruiting victory Josh Heupel and his staff have landed the number one quarterback from the 2026 class in Faizon Brandon out of North Carolina. Brandon's commitment gives the Vols top ten ranked quarterbacks in four continuous cycles with two of those being the top ranked quarterback recruit in Brandon and current projected starter Nico Iamalevea.
While Brandon is one of the youngest quarterbacks in the class, still only 16 years old, scouts and coaches rave about his abilities. He has drawn comparisons to former Tennessee standout Hendon Hooker, now with the Detroit Lions, with his athleticism, running ability, and arm strength.
Brandon cited Heupel and staff for the relationships they built with him early in the process. The Vols were the first SEC school to offer. Since the offer he has visited Knoxville at least eight times and now he will have plenty of time to help build another stellar recruiting class. He also stated his confidence in the staff's ability to develop not only his ability as a player but as a young man.
The current 2025 class is ranked in the top ten on all recruiting sites and Brandon's commitment gives the Vols a head start towards tacking on another highly ranked class. Brandon chose the Vols over Alabama among other schools which gives Heupel another recruiting victory over the top schools in the country. LSU and NC State were the other finalists for his services.