College Football Experts Note Faizon Brandon's Skill That is 'Tailor-Made' For Tennessee's Offense

ESPN analysts praise the incoming freshman QB's deep-ball ability and physical traits that fit Josh Heupel's system.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 2:48pm

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Tennessee's quarterback battle will be the main storyline this spring as the Volunteers look to replace Joey Aguilar. While redshirt freshman George MacIntyre and Colorado transfer Ryan Staub are in the mix, ESPN analysts are particularly excited about true freshman Faizon Brandon's skill set, which they say is "tailor-made" for Josh Heupel's offense.

Why it matters

With Aguilar out of eligibility, Tennessee's quarterback room lacks experienced production. Brandon, a five-star recruit, could compete for the starting job sooner than expected due to his strong arm and athleticism that fit Heupel's vertical passing attack.

The details

ESPN's Craig Haubert and Tom Luginbill noted that Brandon's "deep-ball ability is tailor-made" for Tennessee's offense, which emphasizes pushing the ball downfield. They also compared Brandon's physical traits to former Vols QB Hendon Hooker, though he is not as polished as 2023 signee Nico Iamaleava at this stage.

  • Tennessee begins spring practice on Monday, March 18, 2026.
  • The Vols open the 2026 season on September 5 in Knoxville.

The players

Faizon Brandon

A five-star quarterback recruit in the 2026 class, ranked as the third-best QB and third-best overall prospect by 247Sports.

Josh Heupel

Tennessee's head football coach, who has emphasized the quarterback battle will be wide open this spring.

George MacIntyre

Tennessee's redshirt freshman quarterback who had nine passing attempts last season.

Ryan Staub

Colorado transfer quarterback joining the competition at Tennessee.

Joey Aguilar

Former Tennessee quarterback who was denied eligibility for the 2026 season.

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What they’re saying

“Tennessee has built a system that asks quarterbacks to push the ball vertically. Brandon has a big arm, sneaky athleticism and physical traits reminiscent of Hendon Hooker. Though Brandon is not as polished at this stage as Nico Iamaleava, his deep-ball ability is tailor-made for this offense.”

— Craig Haubert and Tom Luginbill, ESPN analysts

What’s next

The judge in Joey Aguilar's case will decide on Tuesday whether to allow him back on the team, which could further impact the quarterback competition.

The takeaway

Tennessee's quarterback battle will be the main focus this spring, with true freshman Faizon Brandon emerging as an exciting option due to his skill set that fits Josh Heupel's vertical passing attack. However, the competition remains wide open with limited experience among the contenders.