Tennessee names its starting quarterback for 2026 opener

By Creg Stephenson | cstephenson@al.comTennessee has chosen true freshman Faizon Brandon as its starting quarterback for its 2026 season-opener vs. Furman, according to multiple reports.Brandon, a five-star recruit in the 2026 Volunteers’ signing class, beat out redshirt freshman George McIntyre for the starting job. He joined the Tennessee program prior to spring practice after leading Grimsley High School in Greensboro, N.C., to back-to-back state championships. Tennessee found itself starting a freshman quarterback in 2026 after Joey Aguilar failed in his legal attempts to gain an additional year of eligibility and veteran backup Jake Merklinger transferred to Connecticut. The Volunteers added Colorado State transfer Ryan Staub via the transfer portal, but Staub is likely to be the No. 3 quarterback behind Brandon and McIntyre. According to On3, Brandon will be Tennessee’s first true freshman starting quarterback in its season-opener since Brent Schaeffer in 2004. Schaeffer later lost his starting job to fellow freshman Erik Ainge before transferring to junior college and eventually re-surfaced at Ole Miss. True freshman Nico Iamaleava started the Volunteers’ Citrus Bowl game at the end of the 2023 season after starter Joe Milton opted out. Iamaleava was Tennessee’s starting quarterback in 2024 before abruptly leaving the team the following spring and transferring to UCLA, where he is entering his second season as the Bruins’ starter. Creg Stephenson became college sports managing producer for AL.com in 2026. A veteran of more than 30 years as a sports writer, he is a past president of the Alabama Sports Writers Association and has won...