COMMENTARY: Tennessee names a starting QB, and it could cost them

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel has finally named a starting quarterback, and I believe he made a grave mistake.

On Monday morning, the Volunteers named true freshman Faizon Brandon the team’s Week 1 quarterback, making redshirt freshman George MacIntyre the backup.

While Brandon, who ranked as the No. 3 quarterback in the 2026 class, is undoubtedly a remarkable talent with a high ceiling, he is still only 18 years old.

The Volunteers are subjecting Brandon, who finished 35-1 as a starter in high school, to potential disaster by pitting him against SEC defenses such as Texas, Alabama, and LSU.

“We named him the starter because we believe in the work that he has put in,” Heupel explained Monday. “He has earned [the] right [to start].”

Brandon is almost certainly more skilled than MacIntyre, but the decision should have extended well beyond just what meets the eye.

Heupel should have taken into account the sheer lack of experience that Brandon brings to the table, despite his incredible playmaking ability.

And unfortunately for Tennessee, history speaks for itself. 

The last time a true freshman quarterback had any sort of success in the SEC was Jalen Hurts in 2016. At 18 years old, Hurts led Alabama to a 14-1 record, a national championship appearance, and won SEC offensive player of the year.

Hurts would go on to become a three-time NFL Pro Bowler, a Super Bowl champion and MVP, and currently holds the third-most rushing touchdowns of any quarterback in NFL history.

It is safe to say, therefore, that Brandon’s likelihood of becoming the next Jalen Hurts is incredibly low.

I say this because being a tremendous athlete is not just about having the physical skills and tools. Rather, being a great athlete has everything to do with mentality.

Tom Brady was far from the most talented quarterback to ever touch a football, yet he is simultaneously the greatest of all time. His killer instinct and mindset were unmatched.

Michael Jordan is almost certainly not the most skilled player to grace the hardwood, yet he is easily the greatest basketball player to ever exist, simply due to his refusal to lose.

Jalen Hurts has that mindset.

He was also undoubtedly supported by a dominant offensive system carefully built by Nick Saban, who is arguably the greatest coach in the history of football.

Further, he was surrounded by a plethora of talent, with future NFL stars like O.J. Howard (TE), Calvin Ridley (WR), and Josh Jacobs (RB) by his side.

Brandon does not have those resources at his disposal.

This is not to say that Brandon does not possess the killer instinct and mindset required to become the next Volunteers legend.

After facing the Texas Longhorns just three weeks into his collegiate career, however, the answer will be abundantly clear.

By rushing Brandon into being an immediate starter at the age of 18, a decision that has repeatedly failed within the SEC, the Volunteers are not only punting the 2026 season away, but also mortgaging Brandon’s future.

Nothing is worse for a young quarterback’s confidence than getting repeatedly blown out by conference rivals, which is likely to happen against top SEC foes such as Texas, LSU, Alabama, and Texas A&M.

There is a possibility that Brandon proves Heupel right, and has a dominant freshman season in the nation’s top conference. 

More likely for Tennessee, though, is that this decision backfires.

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