"I don't plan on going anywhere": 5-star Tennessee QB commit Faizon Brandon sends a positive message to Josh Heupel

Tennessee commit and five-star quarterback prospect Faizon Brandon has reassured the Vols fans and coach Josh Heupel of his promise to the program. Brandon, the No. 1 quarterback in the 2026 class, per 247Sports, gave this assurance in an interview with Rivals’ Sam Spiegelman.

“I don’t plan on going anywhere," Brandon said. "I’m working on trying to deal with my class and getting more kids committed to Tennessee, so we can have a great program.”

Brandon is a product of Grimsley High School in Greensboro, North Carolina. The top quarterback prospect stands at 6-foot-3 and weighs 197 pounds. He has come up on the radar of several powerhouses across the country, landing 25 offers so far, per 247Sports.

He has offers from Alabama, Duke, Florida State, Georgia, Louisville, LSU, Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon, Penn State, TCU and Texas A&M, among others.

However, the Vols have made the biggest impression on him so far, prompting him to pledge his commitment to the program in August. In an interview with On3 following his commitment, Brandon spoke about how impressed he was with Tennessee.

“I started feeling Tennessee a while ago," he said. "They started recruiting me early, and the first impression they made on me was unlike any other. The staff recruited me hard from the get-go, they kept it steady with me and they pushed so hard to get me. All of that made an impact on why I picked them.”

Faizon Brandon’s commitment notwithstanding, Tennessee fans may have reasons to be worried. It is not uncommon in the very competitive college recruitment ecosystem to see prospects flip their commitment.

This becomes even more likely in the case of an elite prospect like Brandon, who is highly sought after by top programs, many of which are rivals to the Vols.

With his reassurance, Faizon Brandon has put to bed rumors linking him with Bill Belichick’s UNC. Brandon, a North Carolina native, is one of the names linked with UNC after the hiring of the former New England Patriots coach.

Faizon Brandon's high school career so far in numbers

Faizon Brandon has consistently delivered quality performances on the gridiron, justifying his five-star rating. He became a starter for Grimsley in his sophomore season, passing for 3,026 yards and 36 touchdowns. He rushed for an additional 528 yards and nine touchdowns.

The five-star quarterback was named the North Carolina Gatorade Football Player of the Year and North Carolina Mr. Football following his junior season in 2024. He finished the season with 2,814 passing yards and 35 touchdowns.