While Josh Heupel and his staff prepare for what they hope will be another College Football Playoff run, they’re also working hard to build a strong 2026 recruiting class—which is already off to an impressive start with two five-star commitments. Over the weekend, five-star LSU commit Tristen Keys was also on campus for a visit.
“The Volunteers already have two five-star prospects committed. A five-star QB committed in Faizon Brandon, who is a huge recruiting tool for Tennessee, and they also have Gabriel Osenda,” Sports Illustrated’s Najeh Wilkins wrote.
This past weekend was a big one for the Vols, as they welcomed Brandon back to Rocky Top for his official visit. The talented quarterback has been committed since the beginning of the last school year. For him, it was the current Tennessee players who made the decision easy—especially when it came to their thoughts on the coaching staff.
“It pretty much answered all the questions," Brandon said. "I had to talk to some of the players to see how they liked it. The thing that stood out to me was hearing what the players had to say about this staff and how everything is rolling there. Top down, I have good relationships with the people there."
Brandon also had a message for Vol fans on Saturday during his return to campus, and his post made it clear he’s locked in with the orange.
Good to be back home‼️ #GBO 🍊 https://t.co/DWvV8fRRGP
— Faizon Brandon (@faizon_brandon) June 14, 2025
Brandon has all the tools to be a special player in Heupel’s offense. The highly regarded quarterback is aiming to finish his high school career strong before stepping into the most important position on the field at Tennessee.
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He’s projected to be so talented that some believe he’s labeled as the one 2026 prospect any coach would want to build their team around. The Vols are hoping Brandon can help attract more elite talent—starting with Tristen Keys. So far, it seems he’s loving his time in Knoxville.