National Analyst Explains Why Tennessee QB Faizon Brandon is a Rare Exception

The Tennessee Volunteers have made their choice, and Faizon Brandon will be the starting quarterback this season. While this is a risky decision that many have failed to make in over half a decade, and in Tennessee's case, two decades, Brandon is an exception.

Chris Low Shares His Comments on Faizon Brandon

"After some research, and please bail me out if I've missed someone, but Faizon Brandon at Tennessee will be the first true freshman QB in the SEC to start a season opener since Bo Nix at Auburn in 2019. Nix led the Tigers to a 9-4 record that season," Chris Low said on X.

For those who don't know, this is massive news for the Vols, as when people look at the success that Nix has, they can recognize the fact that he was elite with his pocket movement and was a certified playmaker, even when he didn't have the best of weapons. In fact, it seems reasonable that Faizon Brandon has the better wide receivers to begin the season than a player like Bo Nix did.

There is one player who has played since then as a starter, which was Ken Seals, who was solid but didn't have the success that Nix did. However, he did have a much worse group around him, as he started his career with Vanderbilt and didn't get them off the ground quickly like many may have hoped.

Tennessee History Shows Faizon Brandon is a Rare Exception

When it comes to the history of Tennessee, this is where things get interesting. Here is what he said.

"Extremely rare that a true freshman QB in the SEC opens the season as a starter. Prior to Faizon Brandon, Brent Schaeffer was the last to do it at Tennessee in 2004. Schaeffer, in fact, was the first true freshman right out of high school to start at QB in the SEC since freshman eligibility was reinstated in 1973," Chris Low said on X.

The rarity of this happening goes to show that Brandon is on a short list of quarterbacks to accomplish this. It is also impressive due to the fact that the Vols' signal-caller is only 18-years-old, and freshly 18 at that. He is someone who will play the full season as an 18-year-old, which is something worth knowing, as there may be some moments in which it is worth knowing he is still a young athlete.

Regardless, the Vols have done a great job with their decision -making, which is something that allows fans to witness history.

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