Freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon stared down a crucial fourth down late in the first quarter at Georgia Tech and told his Tennessee teammates they were absolutely getting the first down. This was after a blocked punt had them trailing, in his first road start ever against an FBS opponent. Talk about ice in the veins! The No. 14 Vols secured a 45-24 win over Georgia Tech on September 12, a game that highlighted something truly special emerging from their youngest starting quarterback in program history.
That Huddle Control Is Legit
Even with the noise screaming around them, Brandon’s voice cut right through it inside that huddle. His left tackle, David Sanders Jr., called his directions clear, even demanding. Sanders said on September 15 that how Brandon carries himself tells everyone what they need to know. “When you say encouraging or being that leader, just his voice, he’s not shaking, he’s not stuttering. He’s saying it clear as day so we can understand what he’s saying,” Sanders explained. Brandon wasn’t just barking orders, he was owning the moment. Remember, this kid accounted for five touchdowns against Furman the week before, but Georgia Tech was his first taste of FBS action on the road. And he did not back down.
From Scramble to Scoreboard
On that critical fourth down, Brandon took the snap, pulled back a handoff, and rolled to his right. Tight end Ethan Davis was covered, and pressure was coming fast, a total nightmare scenario for any QB, let alone a freshman. But Brandon stuck his foot in the ground, stopping his momentum cold. The defender blew right past him, leaving a clear path. Sanders saw it unfold from his tackle spot: “And all you see is No. 11 just flying by.” Brandon hit the gas, dove forward, and secured the first down. Tennessee scored on that very drive, kicking off 24 unanswered points. Sanders was so hyped he told Brandon on the bus ride how impressed he was by his poise. Brandon was communicating protections, trusting his teammates, and his decision-making? Not rushed one bit. As Sanders put it: “He just never flinched.” Brandon finished the game with 10 completions on 21 attempts for 148 yards and two touchdowns, with the running game really powering the offense with 299 yards and three scores.
This weekend, No. 14 Tennessee (2-0) returns home to face Kennesaw State (1-1) on September 19 at 7:45 p.m. ET on SEC Network. But the real tests are coming fast. A looming showdown with No. 1 Texas on September 26, then three more top-10 teams: No. 7 LSU, No. 8 Texas A&M, and No. 10 Alabama. How Faizon Brandon handles those monster matchups will absolutely define his season. So far, in the huddle through two games, this kid has been completely in control. We’re watching a star in the making, and it’s going to be wild.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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