Coach says that the Tennessee Vols 'hit a home run' by landing key recruit

Elite 11 coach George Whitfield told The Athletic's Bruce Feldman this week that the Tennessee Vols "hit a home run" by landing a key 2026 recruit. 

Whitfield, of course, was referring to five-star quarterback Faizon Brandon, a Vols commit since last August. 

Brandon participated in the Elite 11 Finals in Los Angeles this week and he impressed Whitfield with his "feet" and his "drops". 

“Tennessee hit a home run,” said Whitfield to Feldman. “He has a big arm. Good lower body. You can tell he worked on his feet, hits his drops, no false steps. You can tell he’s figured some stuff out. He should be fun to watch.”

Feldman noted that he thought Brandon "stepped up when the lights were brightest" during the Elite 11 Finals competition this week. He also pointed out that Brandon just turned 17 years old earlier this month, which means the North Carolina native will be just 17 when he goes through spring practice with Tennessee early next year. 

The Vols seem to have hit the jackpot by landing Brandon. The five-star recruit, who has ideal size (6-foot-4/200 lbs), has a great arm, he's accurate, and he can use his legs to pick up tough yards and keep defenses honest. 

Additionally, and perhaps most importantly, Brandon seems to be an elite competitor (he had nothing to gain by participating in the Elite 11 Finals this week) Essentially, he's a perfect fit in Josh Heupel's offense at Tennessee.