'26 NC QB Faizon Brandon (Tennessee commit)

[Dobbs 4 Heisman]

Better? Maybe. BUT there are a whole range of possibilities driven by his, the OL and WR rooms development rates and peaks that COULD posture him for much higher draft status with that 4 th year and the obvious potential for a deeper playoff run instead of breaking in another QB.

Just have to let this play out. If he/they explode this year we thank him and support him in the NFL after he weighs his options. Lots of grey area in the middle too.

My argument wasn't about which year immense improvement was more likely happen. I agree that it's more likely Nico and this offense peaks in 2026 than 2025. My argument was its better for us if the leap happens this year and he's a first round pick after 3 years in the program than 4.

Recruits will be more excited at seeing us developing guys with the ability to leave early after 3 years than with guys who need to stick around for 4 years to reach their maximum potential.

 

[overseasorange2]

I see this is setting up nicely for when/if Faizon doesn’t earn the starting spot the second he steps on campus then everyone can bash Heup and talk about how he doesn’t know what he’s doing despite exactly zero of the posters here ever laying eyes on a single practice.

This place is so predictable.

 

[GUNTERSVOL]

My argument wasn't about which year immense improvement was more likely happen. I agree that it's more likely Nico and this offense peaks in 2026 than 2025. My argument was its better for us if the leap happens this year and he's a first round pick after 3 years in the program than 4.

Recruits will be more excited at seeing us developing guys with the ability to leave early after 3 years than with guys who need to stick around for 4 years to reach their maximum potential.

Once again possible, BUT our 25 and especially our 26 guy could benefit from THAT development time and if they are both still here will slow down other high rated additions. Always looking but not critical in 27. Whether GMac redshirts this year to bulk up is also a factor . I like the whole room.

 

[LouderVol]

It's better for the program if Nico is gone after this year as a 1st round pick. You have to think about recruits in general rather than exceptions to the rule like Peyton. Most recruits want to get to the NFL as soon as possible. It's better for us in recruiting to have guys being able to get drafted highly after 3 years rather than 4. You gotta think long term rather than short term. In the short term 4 years of Nico is better than 3. But for the long term health of the program we need him to get drafted next year as a 1st round pick rather than having him stick around for 4 years.

depends on what that 4th year generates on the field.

If it gave us an SEC or National Title, that would do far more than just sending one guy to the NFL a year earlier.

if you are assuming we get the same results between 3rd and 4th year Nico than your stance makes sense. but it relies on the team not improving during that time.

 

[GUNTERSVOL]

depends on what that 4th year generates on the field.

If it gave us an SEC or National Title, that would do far more than just sending one guy to the NFL a year earlier.

if you are assuming we get the same results between 3rd and 4th year Nico than your stance makes sense. but it relies on the team not improving during that time.

I am a bit worried that this year will start slow due to the high percentage of underclassmen in the OL and WR rooms that would make 26 a much better shot than 25. Not sure we have a SR WR on the squad and Kits the only TE. Karic only SR OL if in fact he is back if memory holds.

 

[Dobbs 4 Heisman]

depends on what that 4th year generates on the field.

If it gave us an SEC or National Title, that would do far more than just sending one guy to the NFL a year earlier.

if you are assuming we get the same results between 3rd and 4th year Nico than your stance makes sense. but it relies on the team not improving during that time.

Agree. I was assuming team results stay the same. Nothing comes close to winning a national title when it comes to the long term health of a program.

 

[rockytop25]

 

[LouderVol]

I am a bit worried that this year will start slow due to the high percentage of underclassmen in the OL and WR rooms that would make 26 a much better shot than 25. Not sure we have a SR WR on the squad and Kits the only TE. Karic only SR OL if in fact he is back if memory holds.

yeah definitely a lot longer come next year. I think we will see several teams dealing with a "lurch" after all the Covid 5th year guys are gone. a lot of the guys who would have been 4th years probably left to get playing time elsewhere. I don't think we will be the only one.

 

[swampfoxfan]

Not trying to stir up hate but what was wrong with Jared Curtis? Yes I am a homer

 

[JCVol00]

Not trying to stir up hate but what was wrong with Jared Curtis? Yes I am a homer

Curtis is old for his class (18 already I think), whereas brandon is young for his class (16 rn, turns 18 fall of ‘26 I think). Both qb’s skillsets are similar, but the idea is that from where brandon is young, yet bigger and faster, he has a lot more potential than curtis

 

[LouderVol]

Not trying to stir up hate but what was wrong with Jared Curtis? Yes I am a homer

I think they believe Faizon has a higher ceiling and floor than Curtis. As JC pointed out above Curtis is almost 2 years older and thus a much more "finished" product. and it seems like the coaches think Faizon is, at the least, near as good a Curtis is right now.

and it looks like in most meaningful categories Faizon had better stats against better competition.

FB: 4A comp, 165/241 77% for 2814 35td 2 ints, and 625 yards rushing and 9 more TDs
JC: 2A comp, 180/321 56% for 2522 25td 9 ints, and 545 yards rushing and 13 more TDs.

I don't think its so much that Curtis is bad/average, just they like Faizon more.

 

[Go Fight Win]

Our staff sees Faizon as a 5 star and Jared as a 3 star

Does that help people on this board?

 

[LouderVol]

Our staff sees Faizon as a 5 star and Jared as a 3 star

Does that help people on this board?

if Jared wasn't from TN this board wouldn't care about him.

*kinda wondering if this is going to be like the DE that went to Oklahoma, Grimes or something. looked like tarzan played like jane, but looked great in an athletic onesie so all the sites had him as the top player in the state. We never really attempted to get him, half of this board was convinced the staff was effing up even if we did get similar players.

 

[Mullins2010]

Did they really drop him to a 4* or has he always been there?

 

[kong]

Anyone else notice that 247 and Rivals wrote articles about how Faizon lived up to his #1 player in the country billing after the Navy National combine? Not a single peep from on3 and now they drop him to a 4 star. Is on3 the new ESPN?

https://247sports.com/article/navy-all-american-bowl-the-247sports-all-combine-team-for-the-2025-national-combine-243937807/amp/

Top performers, ranking implications from Navy All-American Bowl Combine

Five-star quarterback Faizon Brandon committed to Tennessee in August.

n.rivals.com

 

[OGbabyaviVol]

Did they really drop him to a 4* or has he always been there?

Laughable. Even more laughable that the uncommitted prospect is #1.

 

[swampfoxfan]

if Jared wasn't from TN this board wouldn't care about him.

*kinda wondering if this is going to be like the DE that went to Oklahoma, Grimes or something. looked like tarzan played like jane, but looked great in an athletic onesie so all the sites had him as the top player in the state. We never really attempted to get him, half of this board was convinced the staff was effing up even if we did get

Reggie Grimes wasn't a total bust but no earth mover.

Curtis is listed as #1player in the class, so maybe a few might care.

 

[swampfoxfan]

Curtis is old for his class (18 already I think), whereas brandon is young for his class (16 rn, turns 18 fall of ‘26 I think). Both qb’s skillsets are similar, but the idea is that from where brandon is young, yet bigger and faster, he has a lot more potential than curtis

That makes sense, thanks

 

[Go Fight Win]

Thanks for being so helpful Dick.

sure thing! The question you posed in Faizon Brandon's thread has been posed and answered every other page for the past 2 years. Hope that helps

 

[Blake25p]

He’s always been a 4* with their ratings, he’s a 5* on the other three sites thus a 5* on ON3’s composite rankings.

Did they really drop him to a 4* or has he always been there?

Anyone else notice that 247 and Rivals wrote articles about how Faizon lived up to his #1 player in the country billing after the Navy National combine? Not a single peep from on3 and now they drop him to a 4 star. Is on3 the new ESPN?

https://247sports.com/article/navy-all-american-bowl-the-247sports-all-combine-team-for-the-2025-national-combine-243937807/amp/

Top performers, ranking implications from Navy All-American Bowl Combine

Five-star quarterback Faizon Brandon committed to Tennessee in August.

n.rivals.com

 

[butchna]

sure thing! The question you posed in Faizon Brandon's thread has been posed and answered every other page for the past 2 years. Hope that helps

I’ve earned that besmirchment in selected past exchanges. Never noticed any posts from you that warrant it. Maybe he’s a lil high strung?

 

[SugarCC]

Reggie Grimes wasn't a total bust but no earth mover.

Curtis is listed as #1player in the class, so maybe a few might care.

What's your definition of bust? Mine is 8.5 sacks over 4 years.

 

[kong]

He’s always been a 4* with their ratings, he’s a 5* on the other three sites thus a 5* on ON3’s composite rankings.

He was ranked as the #11 overall player (5* lock) and he dropped to #34 (4*). On3 just trying to make some extra money on the Jared Curtis recruitment.

 

[OrangeMoundTNVol]

Did they really drop him to a 4* or has he always been there?

 

[LouderVol]

Reggie Grimes wasn't a total bust but no earth mover.

Curtis is listed as #1player in the class, so maybe a few might care.

he isn't #1 on any service. ESPN has him at #2, On3 @ #3, Rivals #4, 247 #7. Faizon isn't chopped liver in those rankings.
247 has Faizon as #1, Rivals @ #2, ESPN #6, On3 is the outlier at #34.