Tennessee Vols among top schools for elite 5-star recruit that's looking to commit soon

The Tennessee Vols, as expected, are among the top schools for 2026 five-star quarterback Faizon Brandon, the No. 1 overall recruit in the nation ( per 247Sports ).

Brandon, 6-foot-4/195 lbs, included Tennessee among his top four schools this week, along with Alabama, LSU, and NC State.

The Greensboro, NC native is planning to announce his commitment on August 3.

Alabama is believed to be the Vols' biggest competition for Brandon.

Tennessee has been building a strong relationship with Brandon over the last year after identifying him as their top quarterback recruiting target in the 2026 class.

If the Vols land Brandon, they'll be getting an athletic quarterback who has a big arm and can make all of the throws. They'll also be getting a player that has developed into a key leader for his high school football team.

"He does a lot of things really well," said Darryl Brown, who is Brandon's head coach at Grimsley ( via WFMY ). "I think the first thing that sticks out to anybody when you first watch him is the way the ball comes out of his hand. He throws it as well as any kid I've seen, that I've ever coached, and that I've ever coached against to be honest with you. But the thing that I think makes us the most proud, and what we've enjoyed watching, is just how he's grown as a leader. His understanding of the game. He can make all the throws now, where when he first got here it was kind of just more of a really strong arm. Now he can put touch on it. He's very accurate.

"But just his understanding of the game...he's become a leader with his teammates. His teammates love him. The sky is the limit for him. The thing about him is that he's hungry to get better. You see a lot of kids when they get a lot of attention they become complacent. And that's not Faizon. He continues to work. He's a tireless worker. He's always striving to get better. Picking up little things to improve. He's very coachable. So if he continues to be like that, which I know he will because he's had a good upbringing, he'll get better each and every day and each and every week."

Brandon told 247Sports that he's committing in August (which is a little early for a 2026 quarterback) so he can make sure he's able to go where he wants to go.

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