2026 five-star quarterback Faizon Brandon, a Tennessee Vols commit, generated national headlines last month when news broke that his family is suing the state of North Carolina because of its NIL laws.
Brandon, who plays football at Grimsley High School in Greensboro, isn't allowed to earn income from NIL deals because he attends a public school.
High school athletes in North Carolina who attend private schools, however, are allowed to earn income from NIL deals. That's why 2025 five-star offensive lineman David Sanders Jr, a Vols commit who attends Providence Day in Charlotte, can sell shirts and other merchandise on his website.
(Last month, 2026 five-star tight end Kendre Harrison transferred from Reidsville High School to Providence Day where he's playing alongside Sanders this fall.)
Brandon's family is suing the state of North Carolina because the five-star recruit was unable to take advantage of a "life changing" NIL opportunity due to the fact that he attends a public school.
Currently, the only way that Brandon could take advantage of NIL opportunities would be to transfer to a private school in North Carolina (something that wouldn't be a problem considering he's the No. 1 overall player in the 2026 recruiting class).
Brandon, however, loves his teammates at Grimsley. And at least for now, he's not interested in leaving them behind to chase NIL cash.
“Faizon could have left,” said Grimsley head coach Darryl Brown to the The Herald recently . “Faizon doesn’t want to leave, right? Like, he loves Grimsley, loves his teammates, loves our football program, loves his school, loves his classmates, loves his teachers. The easy thing for him to do is what some other kids have done — to pack up and head on."
Brown also described Brandon as “a super humble kid” and “extremely coachable”.
I don't think anyone could fault Brandon for leaving Grimsley for a private school for a life-changing NIL opportunity. But that's not how he's built. And there's something pretty cool about that. It's football at its purest -- competing with a group of kids that Brandon grew up with is something that's special. And it's something that Brandon will never have again once he leaves Grimsley.
Money is obviously important. But the competition and the camaraderie are what every ex football player says they miss the most about the game once they retire -- that's what makes the sport special.
If Brandon lives up to his potential, there will plenty of NIL cash in his future. But the time he's spending with his teammates at Grimsley is something that money will never be able to buy.
Related: Vols legend Peyton Manning hilariously describes his relationship with Texas QB Arch Manning
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