True freshman Faizon Brandon won the battle for Tennessee’s starting quarterback job, according to multiple media reports Monday.
The five-star recruit from Greensboro, N.C., had been competing with sophomore George MacIntyre.
The 6-foot-4, 225-pound Brandon will make his debut for the No. 20 Volunteers in the Sept. 5 season opener against Furman in Knoxville, Tenn.
Brandon was ranked the No. 3 quarterback and No. 10 overall player in the Class of 2026 by the 247Sports composite rankings. He passed for over 6,300 yards with 79 touchdowns at Grimsley High School, leading the team to a 35-1 record and two state titles over three seasons as a starter.
The 6-foot-6 MacIntyre appeared in two games for the Volunteers last season, completing 7 of 9 passes for 69 yards. He was a consensus four-star recruit in the Class of 2025.