TENNESSEE VOLS FOOTBALL: More honors for Faizon Brandon

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Tennessee freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon was named the Shaun Alexander Freshman Player of the Week by the Maxwell Football Club on Wednesday following his stellar collegiate debut in the Vols' 56-9 season-opening victory over Furman.

Brandon, the youngest starting quarterback in Tennessee history, accounted for five touchdowns in the first two-and-a-half quarters of the season opener. He completed 13 of 17 passes for 226 yards and three touchdowns while rushing 10 times for 68 yards and two scores.

His five total touchdowns tied a Tennessee freshman record held by Casey Clausen (five touchdown passes vs. Arkansas on Nov. 11, 2000) and Tyler Bray (five touchdown passes vs. Memphis on Nov. 6, 2010).

Brandon fired his first career touchdown pass on a 17-yard completion to Ethan Davis in the first quarter before adding a pair of rushing touchdowns from 6 and 7 yards out in the second quarter. After halftime, the Charlotte, North Carolina, native capped back-to-back scoring drives with 55- and 57-yard touchdown passes to junior wide receiver Mike Matthews.

What even makes Brandon's opening game even more impressive was that he was limited by coach Josh Heupel's plan to maintain a very conservative offensive plan. Brandon threw just two passes of any consequential length and both went for touchdowns.

Brandon's first real test will happen this week when he steps under center against Georgia Tech. The Yellowjackets are coming off a terrible loss to Colorado. They will be focused on trying to fluster Brandon with their defensive schemes in an attempt to throw off the rhythm of the Tennessee ground game that can be effective.

The award is named after former Alabama running back Shaun Alexander. As a redshirt freshman in 1996, he rushed for a school-record 291 yards in a 26-0 win over LSU. Alexander went on to finish the season with 589 yards and six touchdowns.

Key injuries impacted Alexander's career at Alabama, but he went on to have a great NFL career with the Seattle Seahawks. 

Brandon was also selected earlier this week as the 247Sports True Freshman of the Week and the SEC Freshman of the Week. He was previously named to the 2026 Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award Hot 37 Watch List, which recognizes the top freshman players in college football.

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