Tennessee’s 2026 recruiting class has started off with a bang as Greensboro (N.C.) Grimsley five-star quarterback Faizon Brandon announced his commitment to the Volunteers.
He chose the Vols over SEC rivals Alabama and LSU as well as NC State.
247Sports ranks Brandon as the No. 1 overall player in the 2026 recruiting class. The 247Sports Composite Ranking has Brandon as the No. 30 player in the class and the No. 4 quarterback.
After sporadic appearances as a freshman, Brandon broke onto the scene at Grimsley as a sophomore. The 6-foot-3.5, 195-pounder completed 3,096 yards and 36 touchdowns to only three interceptions.
He was also a threat on the ground, rushing for 528 yards and 9 TDs and averaging just over six yards per carry.
Tennessee has been a constant in Brandon’s recruitment. Last June, he received an offer from the Vols after attending a camp in Knoxville.
Stream Faizon Brandon games in 2024 on NFHS Network
Since then, he’s visited multiple times, including games last season against South Carolina (Sept. 30), Texas A&M (Oct. 14), and Georgia (Nov. 18). He was most recently on campus on July 27.
Faizon Brandon finds Jayden Petit for a TD at Future 50 😈🔥 #UANext @UANextFootball I @faizon_brandon I @JaydenPetit12 pic.twitter.com/i4yif56P6n
— SportsCenter NEXT (@SCNext) June 29, 2024
Josh Heupel lands another elite quarterback commitment
Since arriving in Knoxville, Tennessee, head coach Josh Heupel has been a strong recruiter of elite quarterback talent out of high school.
Nico Iamaleava was the first of Heupel’s big-time quarterback landings. The Vols starter this season, Iamaleava was a five-star recruit coming out of high school and the No. 2 overall prospect in 247Sports’ 2023 recruiting rankings.
Jake Merklinger, a four-star prospect, was Tennessee’s quarterback pledge in its 2024 class.
The 2025 cycle has seen Heupel land another top quarterback, this time in Tennessee. Brentwood Academy top-70 quarterback George MacIntyre announced his commitment to Tennessee in January.
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