Prized 2026 quarterback prospect Faizon Brandon will officially begin his Tennessee career as a back-to-back high school state champion. Brandon helped lead Grimsley High School to the North Carolina 7A State Championship title with a 24-14 win over Clayton High School on Friday night.
The Whirlies also captured the North Carolina 4A State Championship in 2024.
Brandon was named the game MVP after the victory, throwing for 126 yards, a touchdown, and an interception on 8-18 passing, and running for 65 yards and a touchdown, according to High School OT.
Grimsley trailed 7-0 after the first quarter but put together a two-touchdown second quarter to go into the halftime break up 14-7. Brandon was responsible for both second-quarter scores, with a 7-yard touchdown pass at the seven-minute mark and a three-yard rushing touchdown with just 37 seconds until halftime.
The Whirilies outscored the Comets 10-7 in the second half to secure back-to-back state titles in North Carolina.
So Grateful‼️🏆 #AGTG https://t.co/8hjluEkwYU
— Faizon Brandon (@faizon_brandon) December 13, 2025
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With his high school career wrapped up, Brandon’s attention will now turn to his next move to the University of Tennessee football program. The coveted signee will be an early enrollee to get a jump start on things in Knoxville.
Brandon, Tennessee’s highest-rated signee in the 2026 class, was ranked as a five-star prospect and the No. 2 overall player in the cycle by 247Sports. He was one of Tennessee’s first commits, pledging to the Vols in August 2024 over LSU, Alabama, and NC State, and created a foundational piece to build the class around. Brandon was also a key player in helping Tennessee build its class by being a recruiter to his 2026 peers on the inside.
“Box-checking quarterback with the arm talent and dual-threat athleticism to light up scoreboards on Saturdays and then eventually Sundays,” 247Sports’ Andrew Ivins wrote in an evaluation from last spring. “Should be viewed as one of the top overall prospects in the 2026 cycle and the type of signal caller that can be the catalyst for multiple College Football Playoff runs.”
Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel is excited to get the 6-foot-3.5 quarterback onto campus and on the practice field.
“First of all, Faizon’s a great player,” Heupel said on early signing day in December. “We had an opportunity to watch him on the basketball court, extremely explosive, great touch, had great presence and bodies in motion. You see that on the football tape, obviously as well. He’s played at an elite level for a long time. His body continued to develop. He’s got a great mind. He’s extremely quick-minded. You combine all those factors, really excited about having him in the quarterback room and competing next fall. Anytime you’re able to get a quarterback that’s at that level and is made of the right things, he’s able to develop relationships with guys and help attract them. And he certainly did that in this recruiting class, really on both sides of the football.”
With the early signing period in the rearview mirror, Tennessee has the No. 7-ranked class in 247Sports Composite’s team rankings. Brandon is at the top of that list, and clearly projects as an impact player for the Volunteers moving forward. It’ll be about development in the early stages, but he’s got all the tools to make a lasting impact on Rocky Top.
Stay tuned to Rocky Top Insider for more Tennessee Football recruiting news.
