Tennessee’s Freshman QB Takes Stage | Tennessee Volunteers Football News

Tennessee football kicks off the season with a bold move: true freshman QB Faizon Brandon under center against Furman, marking the first time since 2014 a freshman has started at QB for the Vols. Brandon brings elite high school credentials—just one loss, two state titles—and steps into a loaded offense featuring top SEC receivers Mike Matthews and Braylon Staley, plus rushing star DeSean Bishop and a seasoned line. Defensively, new coordinator Jim Knowles brings aggressive schemes, though the unit loses key linebacker Arion Carter to suspension—a bizarre NCAA violation tied to flight costs in the NIL era. Furman, already 20-3 after their opener, is led by veteran QB Jake Garcia and solid weapons. Tennessee’s goal? A quick win to set up a big showdown with Georgia Tech next week. Expect fireworks at Neyland as the Vols chase a strong start with all-new energy. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/cd3afb983afe445e