Faizon Brandon had a miserable performance for Tennessee football on Sept. 26 at Neyland Stadium.
He looked confused sometimes. He struggled to find open receivers. And he was overwhelmed by the Texas pass rush as the Longhorns claimed a 20-17 victory.
But even in the worst of times for a freshman quarterback, you could see why the Vols
have put their offense – and their football future – in Brandon’s hands.As dreadful as the performance was against the nation’s No. 1 team, he was still standing, still hoping for a miracle when he unleashed a Hail Mary for the end zone on the game’s final play. On Tennessee’s previous possession against a defense that hounded him from start to finish, he led the Vols 80 yards for a touchdown, which came on a 30-yard
pass to Mike Matthews.
Brandon was hit so hard and so often, I’m surprised he lasted the game. He almost didn’t. He was sidelined in the first quarter after absorbing a hit on his right shoulder and had to sit out a couple of series.
But he returned. He also came back mentally. No matter how much he got knocked around or how overwhelmed he must have felt, he kept trying to make plays.
On one play, he fought through two defenders behind the line and stumbled to the sideline as he was struck again.
Last January, I stressed the importance of Tennessee signing a proven quarterback in the transfer portal. Winning games with a freshman quarterback in the SEC against nationally ranked teams is a daunting task – no matter how talented he might be.
Talent and experience usually are required to win games like the one UT lost to Texas. So, understandably, the Vols did make a run at transfer quarterbacks. They tried but failed.
However, I doubt Arizona State transfer Sam Leavitt – who preferred LSU’s NIL deal to Tennessee’s – could have saved the Vols against Texas. In fact, I doubt he would have finished the game.
It’s a compliment to Brandon that he didn’t wilt in the heat of a pass rush that produced an outrageous total of 10 sacks, including five by All-American Colin Simmons. Brandon was resilient enough to throw a touchdown pass in the final minutes.
Tennessee’s offensive line was terribly overmatched. That’s a problem, especially since the preseason consensus was that it would rank at or near the top of the SEC.
Pass protection wasn’t Tennessee's only offensive failure. Its run-blocking also was inadequate.
Nonetheless, when the passing game is as lacking as Tennessee’s was, one unit shouldn’t get all the blame. I didn’t notice receivers running wide open through the Texas secondary. Brandon came up short on too many throws.
He also was mystified at times by the Texas defense, orchestrated by veteran coordinator Will Muschamp. Like Tennessee defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, Muschamp knows how to bring out the worst in a freshman quarterback.
Brandon will only get better if he can stay healthy. This was his introduction to big-time college football. Tennessee’s three consecutive victories against Furman, Georgia Tech and Kennesaw State didn’t prepare him for Texas.
But amid all the adversity, he demonstrated mental and physical toughness. Now, it’s up to his team to do the same as it heads into the second month of the season.
John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Why I was impressed with Faizon Brandon even after miserable performance | Adams
