KNOXVILLE — The Tennessee Volunteers' starting quarterback job for the 2026 season remains undecided as true freshman Faizon Brandon and redshirt freshman George MacIntyre continue competing into fall camp. Both players emerged from spring practice with supporters inside the program, and neither has been named the starter ahead of the team’s opening game.
Faizon Brandon, who turned 18 on June 1, 2026, is 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighs 215 pounds. He has added quality weight since arriving in Knoxville. Rated as the third-best overall prospect in the 2026 recruiting class by 247Sports, Brandon is the second-highest rated quarterback recruit Tennessee has signed in the modern recruiting era, behind Nico Iamaleava. He ended his high school career with back-to-back state championships.
During spring practice, Brandon made throws that impressed people internally at Tennessee. He demonstrated confidence, the ability to analyze defensive schemes, and resilience in bouncing back from mistakes.
“Faizon Brandon, for a true freshman, had a really good spring,” said VolQuest’s Austin Price. “Was he perfect? No, not by any stretch. But did he do enough to go, ‘Whoa, look at this guy?’ Absolutely. Which is why there is momentum there for him heading into the summer months. Both guys are going to continue to battle it out, and we'll see where things go over the next few months.”
Tennessee opens the 2026 season with games against Furman, Georgia Tech, and Kennesaw State before its SEC opener against Texas on September 26. The first three games include two against non-Power Four opponents.