'26 NC QB Faizon Brandon (Tennessee commit)

[OrangeVolMan]

No cause I never saw him play. I saw Curtis play which is why I was sold on him. And I saw GMac play which is why I said he was overrated. After it became obvious we were gonna land Brandon I watched his highlights and liked what I saw. Ultimately Huepel and the staff made the right choice. I like Brandon even more than Curtis. But when we I made those posts it was just about Curtis vs GMac. And guess what? I was right about GMac being overrated as he started to plummet down the rankings soon after.

Just because someone goes down in the rankings doesn’t make you right. Let’s see how he plays first.

 

[Dobbs 4 Heisman]

Just because someone goes down in the rankings doesn’t make you right. Let’s see how he plays first.

Fair enough. But you have to admit if we didn't have Brandon in the fold right now and didn't have Curtis either a lot of people would be unhappy at Huepel and the staff for not being in it for a local 5-star like Curtis. Tennessee fans wouldn't be happy with landing just GMac. Especially after he dropped down the rankings. When I said lets prioritize Curtis, GMac was still a composite 5-star. Now I'm not even sure he's a composite top 100 player.

 

[butchna]

False. In 2017 Bama got 5-star Tua and didn't land another 5-star QB till Bryce Young in 2020. Then Ty Simpson in 2022. Then Julian Sayin in 2024 (who transferred to Ohio State). And now Keelon Russell in 2025. Georgia got 5-star Jacob Eason in 2016. Then Justin Fields in 2018. Both were beat out by 4-star Jake Fromm which is why they transferred. Georgia hasn't landed a composite 5-star QB since. The closest was Brock Vandergriff in 2021 who was a high 4-star who eventually transferred as well.

So the idea that schools like Bama and Georgia are landing 5-star QBs every cycle is pure fantasy. The best you can hope for is a 5-star QB every other year. Huepel has actually recruited the QB position better than almost everyone by landing Nico and Faizon is a 3 year span as top 5 overall players. That's usually the best you can hope for.

Stacking 5-star QBs year after year has never been a thing.

Now you’re shifting it to COMPOSITE. Elite programs intentionally land the highest rated QB available every season…dating back to forever. You’re the only fake expert who suggests otherwise.

 

[butchna]

Fair enough. But you have to admit if we didn't have Brandon in the fold right now and didn't have Curtis either a lot of people would be unhappy at Huepel and the staff for not being in it for a local 5-star like Curtis. Tennessee fans wouldn't be happy with landing just GMac. Especially after he dropped down the rankings. When I said let’s prioritize Curtis, GMac was still a composite 5-star. Now I'm not even sure he's a composite top 100 player.

Instead Heupel out-evaluated you and your previous hissy-fit is another joke in your legacy.

 

[Dobbs 4 Heisman]

Now you’re shifting it to COMPOSITE. Elite programs intentionally land the highest rated QB available every season…dating back to forever. You’re the only fake expert who suggests otherwise.

Anybody talking recruiting always uses composite rankings as the default. Stop acting like I'm the first. It's only when the individual has an agenda (as is the case for homer fans) where they'll latch onto whatever service ranks their guy the highest.

With that said, even if you use to homer fan standard of just picking the highest rating from a single service, you won't find programs that recruit 5-star QBs every cycle. It's usually every other year at best.

 

[Dobbs 4 Heisman]

Instead Heupel out-evaluated you and your previous hissy-fit is another joke in your legacy.

I would hope a guy whose paid to win football games evaluates better than a message board poster who doesn't even claim to evaluate high school recruits. I only talked about GMac and Curtis cause they're local kids who I've seen on local TV. I never claimed to be an expert in national recruiting. I just shared my opinion on two local kids we were looking at. The fact a kid from North Carolina ended up being better than them was irrelevant to my argument at the time.

 

[butchna]

I would hope a guy whose paid to win football games evaluates better than a message board poster who doesn't even claim to evaluate high school recruits. I only talked about GMac and Curtis cause they're local kids who I've seen on local TV. I never claimed to be an expert in national recruiting. I just shared my opinion on two local kids we were looking at. The fact a kid from North Carolina ended up being better than them was irrelevant to my argument at the time.

You “don’t claim”? Then we’ve misunderstood you all these years. I’ll properly consider your background noise as a unique form of Tourette’s from here on out.

 

[butchna]

Anybody talking recruiting always uses composite rankings as the default. Stop acting like I'm the first. It's only when the individual has an agenda (as is the case for homer fans) where they'll latch onto whatever service ranks their guy the highest.

With that said, even if you use to homer fan standard of just picking the highest rating from a single service, you won't find programs that recruit 5-star QBs every cycle. It's usually every other year at best.

So Saban didn’t ATTEMPT to land Nico or Arch the class after Ty Simpson?

 

[Carp]

Anybody talking recruiting always uses composite rankings as the default. Stop acting like I'm the first. It's only when the individual has an agenda (as is the case for homer fans) where they'll latch onto whatever service ranks their guy the highest.

With that said, even if you use to homer fan standard of just picking the highest rating from a single service, you won't find programs that recruit 5-star QBs every cycle. It's usually every other year at best.

Incorrect. Teams MAY not beat down the door for every 5 star QB in every class. But that probably has more to do with the recruit than the team's interest level.

If a recruit sees TN signed a 5 star last cycle, it will be harder to draw that recruit's interest when other teams are offering an easier path to starting. That doesn't mean TN doesn't have interest. Recruiters generally get a good feel on how a recruit feels about their program, and if that recruit isn't showing much interest, there really isn't a point in wasting a lot of resources try to get him on board.

 

[Dobbs 4 Heisman]

So Saban didn’t ATTEMPT to land Nico or Arch the class after Ty Simpson?

Never said anything about attempts. Just said nobody lands 5-star QBs every cycle. And if you do land one it usually hurts you with the 5-stars in the following class (see Nico and Arch passing on Saban). That's why I suggested we prioritize Curtis over GMac cause I thought Curtis was way better.

 

[Beatlebrainiac]

 

[dirtyearlee5]

This kid I do believe will go down as a legend in the history books for UT football. Has turned down other visits and held firm with UT. Number 1 QB in the nation for 2026, bet he gets some big name receivers and a RB or two to join him. I'm super excited about this kid

 

[Vol in Buckeye Land]

Merk and gmac both will play before Brandon. Don’t think any program in the country will have the talent on roster we will have in two years at the position

And if he were to beat those guys out as a freshman…shoo-wee that boy good! Ie, the reason you stack talent.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

And if he were to beat those guys out as a freshman…shoo-wee that boy good! Ie, the reason you stack talent.

That could be an absolute disaster though. Say Brandon came in and did win the job. What happens if both Merk and GMac decide to hit the portal? Yeah you can say no big deal and it’s not likely to happen, but if it did we would be screwed. Hopefully Heupel red shirts Fazion.

 

[MarcoVol]

That could be an absolute disaster though. Say Brandon came in and did win the job. What happens if both Merk and GMac decide to hit the portal? Yeah you can say no big deal and it’s not likely to happen, but if it did we would be screwed. Hopefully Heupel red shirts Fazion.

It would mean Faizon is awesome. That would be a good thing.

You go get some lower level QBs to be backups and give them a nice pay day.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

It would mean Faizon is awesome. That would be a good thing.

You go get some lower level QBs to be backups and give them a nice pay day.

Easier said than done. Trying to convince QBs to come and sit the bench? Yeah good luck. Sorry but if Fazion starts from day 1 then we have serious developmental issues.