Tennessee (1-0) opened its 2026 football season Sept. 5 against Furman (1-1). The Vols defeated Furman, 59-6, at Neyland Stadium.
37 players made their Tennessee debut, including 19 freshmen, in the Week 1 contest.
Eight Vols started in their first game at Tennessee: freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon, senior linebacker Amare Campbell, junior defensive lineman Xavier Gilliam, junior defensive back Dejuan Lane, senior defensive back Kayin Lee, senior defensive back TJ Metcalf, senior defensive back Qua Moss and junior tight end Trent Thomas.
Brandon totaled five touchdowns against Furman. He became the first SEC player with three passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns in his first FBS start since Cam Newton, a fourth-year collegian, on Sept.
4, 2010 for Auburn against Arkansas State.
"I thought he managed what we were doing, the purpose of what we were trying to accomplish, really well," Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel said of Brandon. "Communication part was really solid, and decision making was really good. Extended and made some plays with his feet, took care of the football, and there were a lot of positives from him. For a young player, he managed and stayed within himself extremely well, which is the expectation as a whole."
Below are all 37 players who made their Tennessee debut in Week 1 against Furman.
37 football players make Tennessee debut against Furman
- Fr. DL Dereon Albert
- Fr. OL Ed Baker
- Fr. QB Faizon Brandon
- 5th DB DJ Burks
- Sr. LB Amare Campbell
- Fr. DL Breeze Carter
- Sr. WR Ian Duarte
- Fr. DL JJ Finch
- Fr. OL Jeremy George-El
- Jr. DL Xavier Gilliam
- Fr. DL Kedric Golston II
- Fr. DL Carter Gooden
- So. RB Javin Gordon
- Sr. DB Isaiah Hardge
- Fr. DL Hezekiah Harris
- 5th OL Donovan Haslam
- Sr. LS Blake Howard
- Fr. WR TK Keys
- Fr. WR Tyreek King
- Jr. DB Dejuan Lane
- Sr. DB Kayin Lee
- Fr. DB KJ McClain
- Jr. DB Tevis Metcalf
- Sr. DB TJ Metcalf
- Sr. DB Qua Moss
- Sr. DL Jordan Norman
- Fr. OL Gabriel Osenda
- Jr. PK Cooper Ranvier
- Fr. DL Darryl Rivers
- Fr. DL Nuk Simmons
- Fr. DB Jamyan Theodore
- Jr. TE Trent Thomas
- Sr. QB Ryan Staub
- Fr. LB TJ White
- Jr. OL Ory Williams
- Fr. TE Luca Wolf
- Fr. DB Joel Wyatt
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This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: 37 Vols debut for Tennessee football against Furman
