KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel kicked off the Volunteers’ mock game week by naming true freshman Faizon Brandon as UT’s starting quarterback for its season opener against Furman on Sept. 5.
Heupel held his weekly press conference Monday and discussed the staff’s decision following three weeks of preseason camp and two scrimmages.
“First of all, the entire group has worked and competed extremely hard, but you know, I think something that sticks out is, we break in May for a few weeks of vacation, and he’s in the building,” Heupel said. “Whether that’s in the weight room, whether that’s in the video room, walking through things on the turf in our indoor, working on fundamentals. That type of mentality, attitude is a tribute to him and his growth. That’s why he’s continued to grow as fast as he has.”
Brandon, a native of Greensboro, North Carolina, produced a 35-1 record as a starter at Grimsley High School. He’s won 22 straight games as a starter dating back to the beginning of his junior season of 2024. Brandon will be the Vols’ first true freshman starting quarterback in an opener since Brent Schaeffer did versus UNLV on Sept. 5, 2004.
Tennessee will practice through the week before turning its attention to a real opponent. Kickoff on Sept. 5 is slated for 3:30 p.m. ET from Neyland Stadium.
Tennessee Football Press Conference | Aug. 24, 2026
Head Coach Josh Heupel
Opening statement…
“Good morning, everybody. Mock game week for us, normal week flow as far as practice here, and each unit has some things in specific that they want to continue to grow in. Maybe didn’t get enough work of it during training camp, and/or some areas of improvement before we get to true game week. Had the quarterbacks in this morning, told the team this morning that (Faizon Brandon) had earned the right to be the starter week one. Love what the group has done, how they’ve competed, grown. Love how they competed and supported each other throughout the course of training camp. Faizon gets the nod week one. The expectation at the quarterback position, just like at every position, is guys continue to grow, work, and compete every day and continue to get better throughout the course of the season. Strength of one position group can never be one guy. It’s true at quarterback. I know everybody focuses on the starter, but that group has to continue to grow, and I expect them to do that here as we get on the field again tomorrow, but leading up to game one too.”
On if Faizon Brandon being the starting quarterback is a long-term decision or if he will be consistently evaluated…
“Every position is week-to-week. We named him the starter because we believe in the work that he has put in and how he’s continued to grow and play throughout training camp and the second week, through the second scrimmage. He’s earned that right, but just like every position, you can consistently evaluate.”
On what Faizon Brandon did to separate himself in the quarterback competition…
“I don’t think there’s just one thing. You know, at times people want to say, is there one focal point that changed it? I think in all, his control, command of what we’re doing offensively—that’s in the run game. It’s the RPO game. It’s the drop back, play action. Combine that with the fundamentals, technique, pocket awareness. You put all those things together; decision-making, taking care of the football, while still allowing his playmakers to make plays down the field. You look at the total volume of work, and he’s earned the right to start.”
On if there was a time Faizon Brandon put in extra work that impressed him…
“There’s not just one instance. First of all, the entire group has worked and competed extremely hard, but you know, I think something that sticks out is, we break in May for a few weeks of vacation, and he’s in the building. Whether that’s in the weight room, whether that’s in the video room, walking through things on the turf in our indoor, working on fundamentals. That type of mentality, attitude is a tribute to him and his growth. That’s why he’s continued to grow as fast as he has.”
On George MacIntyre’s mindset after the announcement…
“Told those guys, there’s going to be one guy that’s extremely excited, and there’s going to be disappointment on some others. And I’ve been on both sides of that coin. But as we leave this room, it’s important that you take where you’re at. You continue to work and compete. You don’t know when your number is going to be called, whether it’s week one, week 12, whatever it might be. Unfortunately, I’ve had to play three in a game before, and we were able to win because those guys were prepared. So, that was the challenge that I gave to those guys as well.”
On what went into the timing of the quarterback decision…
“Just when we came to a conclusion, ultimately. You guys heard me say it before we started training camp. Somebody’s got to go out and earn the right to be the starter. I think that’s important in front of their peers and certainly the competition inside of that room. And once (Faizon Brandon) had gotten to that stage, that’s why we named him and when we named him.”
On what he expects from George MacIntyre and Ryan Staub at the quarterback position…
“Guys that are in the building, if you let go of the rope at any point; one, you’re doing a disservice to yourself, your teammates, friends that you have on the team, but you’re setting yourself up for failure on the other side of it, too. So, be in the present, be here, be now, and continue to grow. Ultimately, we’re all in a race to become as good as we can, as fast as we can, and it’s important that those guys do that. You can tell by body language, engagement, quarterback room, answering questions, dialed into the game plan, all of those things, and those guys get practice reps too. So, you’re going to see it on the field. You’re going to see that product.”
On Arion Carter’s suspension and the possibility of NFL players returning to college football…
“I’m not the NCAA. I think in general you guys certainly have a clear picture of how I feel about that entire situation to begin with, even before some of the madness that is college football and rosters, and the current landscape that it is.”
On the state of competition in the running back room…
“All four of those guys, and really the entire room has done an elite job. Playing without the ball in their hands, and when they have the ball in their hands, doing a great job of pressing the line of scrimmage, reading blocks, playing with great pad level when they get to the second and third level, and finishing runs. The group, top to bottom, has continued to grow. Maybe as strong as any running back room that we’ve had here at Tennessee. Coach Sims and the players that sit in there have done a tremendous job.”
On what needs to be accomplished during the mock game week…
“For the quarterbacks, some of the situational football, cleaning up communication. I think all 11 being on the same page – from the sideline, from the huddle, whatever it might be. We were operating like a road game, crowd noise, and we’ll do that this week too. But, I want to clean up some of those things. And defensively, some of our young guys continuing to grow in their understanding of our scheme. I think that’s important here this week.”
