‘Didn’t play his best football’: Tennessee coach benched five-star freshman
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Five-star freshman Faizon Brandon has a lot of upside and he might be the future of the Tennessee Volunteers, but he certainly wasn’t what the Vols needed to beat the Auburn Tigers on Saturday.
Brandon started the game for the Volunteers, as he had the previous four, but he was benched before halftime after what was the worst game of his career. Now, Tennessee has a decision to make going forward.
Brandon Benched
Brandon, a five-star freshman, started his fifth consecutive game for the Volunteers after winning the offseason quarterback battle to become the team’s full-time starter, but he struggled in this game. He went just 3-for-8 through the air for no yards and threw an interception on his final passing attempt before he was replaced by George MacIntyre.
MacIntyre provided an instant boost for the Tennessee offense, going 5-for-5 through the air for 38 yards on his opening drive with the team before the half.
“Faizon just wasn’t operating and didn’t feel 100%,” Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said on his halftime interview with ESPN. “George came in and did some things. Got to find a way to move the football in the second half.”
MacIntyre finished the game 8-for-10 passing for 86 yards through the air, performing well enough to lead Tennessee to a 24-14 victory.
‘Didn’t play his best football’
After the game, Heupel did not commit to any long-term plans at the quarterback position or indicate that this would be a full-time change. He said that the team will need both MacIntyre and Brandon throughout the season.
“We will go watch the tape,” Heupel said after the game via On3. “Faizon, ultimately, didn’t play his best football. The turnover on the sideline and some of the things, just progressions. I have said it a bunch to you guys. We are going to need them all through the course of the year. Alluded to that a little bit earlier with guys that had to step up.
“We will get back in the building on Monday and continue to grow. There is a lot of growth left for us on the offensive side of the football.”
Ultimately, McIntyre gave the Volunteers what they needed to win Saturday’s game, which included a 42-yard pass to Mike Matthews.
“George’s ability to throw the football in the second half allowed us to create a big play — in particular the one to Mike early,” Heupel said. “In general, it allowed us to take advantage of some of the things they were giving us.”
We’ll have to see which quarterback ultimately starts for Tennessee next week against the Arkansas Razorbacks.
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