Everything Orange
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Everything Orange
Faizon Brandon
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Season Four of Everything Orange kicks off with QB1. Tennessee Football's Faizon Brandon joins the podcast!
The 5-star true freshman from Greensboro, North Carolina, arrives on Rocky Top having only lost one game in his outstanding high school career.
Brandon joins host Sarah Detwiler for a wide-ranging conversation, covering his early life, high school success, work in the community, and his reaction to learning he had won the job as Tennessee’s starting quarterback.
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SPEAKER_00I feel like I just had a great relationship with them from the jump when they took me around the campus and you know, just all the coaching points and stuff that Coach Joey would give us out there. I just really wanted to be a part of something like that.
SPEAKER_02Hey y'all, welcome back to the Everything Orange Podcast, newly presented by First Horizon Bank. We are so excited to kick off season four of the Everything Orange Podcast. It is crazy that we're already at September. It's already football time in Tennessee, and we've got our first game in Nealan Stadium tomorrow. I could not be more excited to be on Rocky Top than I am right now. Which, speaking of football, we've got a guy who's kind of been the talk of the town lately here with us in the studio today. We know what he did in high school, we've seen his stats and his recruiting numbers, but we don't really know the person behind the helmet. So here with us today is the newly announced QB1 to sit down and talk with us all things Tissy football, as well as get to know him a little bit more off the field as well. So here with us today, kicking off a new season of Everything Orange, please welcome Faison Brandon. First and foremost, Faison Brandon. Welcome to the Everything Orange podcast. So excited to have you on, because I mean, boy, have you been the talk of the town lately. Newly 18, true freshman, and now announced QB1 for the Tennessee Volunteers. Has that sunk in yet? Have you really been able to realize the weight of what that means as a true freshman?
SPEAKER_00I'll say, yeah, a little bit. Um I'll say it hasn't sucked in all the way yet, but uh starting to kind of get the gist of it. So yeah, I'll say I'm starting to catch on to a little bit.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I'm sure as the days have gone by and it becomes more of a reality. Every single day when you wake up, you're like, whoa, like I didn't dream this. This is actually really happening to me right now. So paint the picture for me. Coach Heipel, you know, calls the meeting, gets the quarterbacks in the room, announces that you earned the right to be the starting quarterback. What was your initial reaction? What was going through your mind when you heard the news?
SPEAKER_00And I was really excited. Um, but everybody was still in there. Um didn't really have much time to, you know, uh I'll say show any expressions or anything. We know we had a meeting like right after it. Um, and then we had a workout right after that also. So didn't really get to, I'll say, think about it too much until after the workout and stuff. But um it definitely felt really good.
SPEAKER_02And what did it mean to you too to hear your head coach speak so highly of you to give you that role and trust you with that responsibility?
SPEAKER_00It it felt really good, you know. Um just really showed all the hard work, you know, it had paid off. Yeah. Um, even though, you know, it's not done yet, but uh that was one of my goals uh just coming in to Tennessee. So, you know, accomplished that and now just got other things I want to accomplish also.
SPEAKER_02Now, how did mom and dad react when you told them? Did you hop on the phone? Were you able to?
SPEAKER_00And they had text me.
SPEAKER_02Okay.
SPEAKER_00Cause I well, when it got announced and stuff, like we were in the middle of a workout. Um, so I just had seen their texts and stuff, so just responded to them.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_00You know, they said they were super proud of me. Yeah. They loved me and stuff.
SPEAKER_02So when you were able to get on the phone, were there any tears? Was mom crying on the phone or anything?
SPEAKER_00No, it was kind of later in the day. So, you know, she probably was done crying on the phone. Yeah, I hadn't gotten that out of her system.
SPEAKER_02Also, a fun fact for everyone listening: you'll be the first true freshman quarterback to start a season opener for Tennessee since Brent Schaefer in 2004, which is crazy because remind me, what year again were you born?
SPEAKER_002008.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, 2008. So you weren't even alive yet when the last time this happened on Rocky Top, uh, to hear something like that and to realize like how big of a moment it is, do you take that in at all, or is it kind of like outside noise? And at this point, you've kind of learned to block it all out.
SPEAKER_00Uh, I would say outside noise, you know, um try not to feed into a lot of the outside stuff and kind of just stay focused on, you know, getting ready, you know, getting prepared for firming and stuff next week.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Um, so yeah, I would say just trying not to feed into it too much.
SPEAKER_02So let's talk now, let's go all the way back and talk about the very beginning for you. Growing up in Greensboro, North Carolina, what was that like for you and kind of explain a little bit about what your childhood looked like?
SPEAKER_00You know, growing up in Greensboro, just everybody out there is just very wholesome, you know, played sports my whole life growing up. Um, so I just I feel like I built a lot of great relationships uh there. Um, and it just helped me become the person that I am today. So, you know, just want to thank everybody that, you know, helped me along the way in Greensboro.
SPEAKER_02What was it like growing up in the Brandon household? What were what was the vibe? Were you out running around playing sports or in the neighborhood or kind of what did life look like?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, definitely um out in a neighborhood, playing sports a lot. Um, you know, my parents signed me up for football when I was five, so I've been playing sports ever since then, played AAU basketball.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Um, my parents would just take me all around uh, you know, to all these different tournaments and stuff like that. So, you know, I had a pretty fun childhood, you know, just playing basketball and football, me and so many different people. Um, you know, I think I had a great childhood.
SPEAKER_02Now you started playing football basically as soon as you could. You got thrown into it. And I watched a video too of your mom being like, not my baby, like I'm not ready for him to go play, you know, football yet. But you did at five, and you were playing all different positions, like pretty much everything but quarterback.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Did you fall in love with the sport? Like, was it love at first sight for you when you started playing?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I would definitely say it would definitely was uh love at first sight. Um, you know, it just every time I played, even when I was younger, it's just when I'm out there on the field, I wouldn't be thinking about anything else but just football. So it's just like my mind would just I don't know, everything else would go away and I would just be out there playing. So that's why I love it so much.
SPEAKER_02Having fun.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_02And it wasn't until eight, nine that you got the first opportunity to play quarterback?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, it was around that time. Um my uh the quarterback had got hurt and I was like the backup. Well, not really backup, I played Robert Cyrus, but I was just the only other person that would play it. So um when I played that game, uh I was kind of nervous, didn't really like it too much, just how like, you know, you had to do so much stuff. Right. But um after a few games I started to, you know, enjoy like controlling the offense and it became fun, and that's when I had fell in love with playing quarterback.
SPEAKER_02Is there an early memory that really sticks out to you about your football journey that you go back to of like, oh man, those were the good old days?
SPEAKER_00Um I think about was when I played on a team called the Eagles. Um, it was just I just couldn't remember the practices just being at this baseball field. Uh can't remember the name of the baseball field, but you know, that's one thing that was still with me is just this that same baseball field and their little league team.
SPEAKER_02Now you also played basketball. You're pretty good at basketball too. Describe your style of play. Were you more of like an offensive guy, defensive guy?
SPEAKER_00I would say uh defensive guy. Okay.
SPEAKER_02Uh Barnes would love you then. He'd be like, come on over here.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I know. Um, you know, I could dunk. That's really what kept me in playing basketball. I probably, if I couldn't have dunked, I probably wouldn't be playing. Uh but you know, I could shoot a little bit, but I would say just I was like a dunker and I played defense, um, made a few shots here and there.
SPEAKER_02So But it was always football. Like that was like basketball was you know for fun and you would do it and you'd hang out with your boys, whatever. But football was always like the focus for me.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, 100%.
SPEAKER_02What point early on did you kind of realize wait, this is something that I could really do seriously and take to the next level and take my dreams really far?
SPEAKER_00Um, I'll say like my eighth grade, like summer, like I haven't played it. It was going into my freshman year. I haven't played snapper football, and I had gone to like an ECU camp and they had offered me, so that's when I had seen like I could actually, you know, probably do something really big with football.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, this is like legit. Yeah. You talked to Mike too about really loving Cam Newton growing up too. What was it about him? Was it the personality or the celebrations or you know, his style? What was it that really made you love watching his game?
SPEAKER_00I really say just I don't know, I guess being from North Carolina and my mom always, you know, she wouldn't really turn on any other games, but when the Panthers came up, she would turn it on and he was the quarterback I seen. He did was doing really good. Um, and he was just somebody I looked up to when I was younger. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Did Young Faison ever hit a Superman once or twice? Not at all. No. No. Um, okay, let's talk real quick about the other football game, the video game. Because I know you love playing it with the boys when you get some downtime, if you ever have time to yourself. First, are you Madden or college football? Or both?
SPEAKER_00I'll say like Madden. Oh, okay. Uh when I I would say my like sophomore junior, well, my junior, that's when I was like NCAA. Whenever NCAA came out um again for I think it was 25, uh, that's when I was playing it a lot. Okay. Um I'm kind of like a Madden guy now.
SPEAKER_02Okay. So when you're playing the game, who are you playing as?
SPEAKER_00Um, I use the Packers or the Lions.
SPEAKER_02Wait, I'm a huge Packers fan. That just made me so happy to hear. I love that. Why those two?
SPEAKER_00Uh the receivers are real fast on the teams. Uh okay, okay.
SPEAKER_02So as a quarterback would you want to look out for what receivers you have on the team? I get it. Madden is only franchise, not dynasty. So do you like playing franchise more than dynasty?
SPEAKER_00Um, I'll play like online head-to-head, uh, if you know what that is. But it's it's it's like you pick a team and somebody online would pick a team and you just play as them.
SPEAKER_02So who on the team claims are the best at Madden or college football, or you know, really likes to talk the talk when you guys are coming in for practice in the morning?
SPEAKER_00Well, I personally think I'm the best too. Madden fantastic. So um I know Todd Redman would say he's you know, kind of good, but I personally think I'm the best.
SPEAKER_02Okay, perfect. Cause I was gonna ask who really is actually the best. So you're the best and point playing, period.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Done. Perfect. When you're not QB1, is playing like one of the games kind of film study for you almost?
SPEAKER_00I would say kind of, you know, sometimes it's like you have RPO and stuff in the game, you know, learning stuff you learn here is yeah, you can apply it to the game. Um you know, sometimes stuff on the game will happen where it's unrealistic, but fair. You know, you can definitely use some knowledge that you learn here in the video game.
SPEAKER_02Now, what style of offense do you like to play and defense when you're on the game?
SPEAKER_00I like to run double mug defense, you know, just a mid blitz. Okay. Um, and then offense just spread, you know. Like to run a lot of vertical plays.
SPEAKER_02So yeah, shocker, but nice. Last question if I put a controller in Coach Hypel's hand, do you think that he'd be pretty good? Do you think he would challenge you in a game?
SPEAKER_00No, probably not. I don't know Coach Hype, I don't I don't think he's a big gamer.
SPEAKER_02No, no, no, no. He's a busy man too. I mean, come on. That's fair. Okay, now your relationship with Tennessee, we'll get back on track here, we'll talk more football again. Um, begins years ago because you came here to a camp, right, after your freshman year, and then you left camp with an offer. What do you remember about that experience and being able to kind of come all the way out here and then realize, like, wait, Tennessee is interested in me at this age too? Because you weren't even a starter at your high school then, right?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, but I was going, it was coming out of my freshman year, going into my sophomore year. So um I was gonna be the starter going into my sophomore year, but I came here, you know. I I didn't really didn't know what to expect, like, you know, from the coaches and stuff, but I ended up on, I feel like I just had a great relationship with them from the jump. Um, when they took me around the campus, and uh later in the day we had a camp, you know, just all the coaching points and stuff that Coach Joey would give us out there was uh on I just really wanted to be a part of something like that. So yeah.
SPEAKER_02Well what I thought was really interesting too was you always came back to Tennessee because you would like looking at your history and all the schools that you visited, it was, oh, you'd go someplace but then come back to Tennessee, and then you'd go another place but come to Tennessee. What was it that kept you wanting to come back to Rocky Top, to the environment, seeing games, et cetera?
SPEAKER_00I find I just had like a great relationship with all the coaches. Um, you know, at certain schools is kind of just like, you know, you have a great relationship relationship with the head coach and probably the OC. Um, but here at Tennessee is like everybody, you know, even people on the defensive side of the ball, you know, coaches. I would have a great relationship with them, you know, um, the nutrition people, um, just everybody, you know. I just felt like a big family here.
SPEAKER_02Now, eventually you ended up receiving more than 25 Division I offers and, you know, from all different programs across college football. But ultimately, Tennessee was the place you committed to in 2024 and then stayed committed to for the next few years until you got here, which I feel like, you know, recruiting these days can be so crazy. And especially with the status that you had, you were probably still hearing from a lot of people too. But what was it that really made you stay firm and not wavering of knowing, like, no, this is where I want to be and where I want to continue growing as a quarterback?
SPEAKER_00Um, I really just say um, you know, I committed here. Um, and of course, coaching and stuff we're still calling, but I just felt like, you know, I want to be a hundred percent committed to Tennessee because if I was going on visits and stuff, I know that Coach Hype and Coach Joy probably go out and try to recruit other quarterbacks also. Um, and also just trying to build the class.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00So that was one of the biggest things for me.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. One of the things that I feel like maybe is a theme throughout your life, like you're a very loyal person. Do you say that that that's something that you carry like, yes, in sports, but also with like your relationships and your friendships and people back home, things like that? Cause I feel like you're a pretty ride or die person with things.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, 100%.
SPEAKER_02What did Coach Hype will, though, showing like during that process that made you think like I want this to be the head coach that helps develop me as a quarterback?
SPEAKER_00Um, I really just say Coach Hype, just playing the game and doing it at a high level. Um, that's really the biggest thing for me. And just uh, you know, how he stayed the same throughout the whole process, you know. Every time I came here, you know, it was the same, you know, with him and Coach Joey and everyone else. Um and it continued to stay that way even when I got here. So that's the biggest thing I like about being here.
SPEAKER_02I think it's also really important, really quick, to highlight some of your high school numbers because if the fan base hasn't gotten a chance to like really dive into those, they're really impressive to hear. So 35 and one as a starter, back-to-back state championships, completed more than 72% of your passes, compiled over 6,000 passing yards and 79 touchdowns, and then another 1,200 plus yards and 21 scores on the ground. The part that I get hung up on is the 35 and one because that is so impressive. What is it about your will to win that you think has helped you excel in the sport so much?
SPEAKER_00I really just say, you know, I didn't do it by myself, but like I had great coaches, um, great team back home also. Like, I love all those guys. Um, I feel like we just worked so hard and just kept our head down. You know, some games will be down, but you know, our coach would, you know, give us some motivational words um and just keep us fighting, and at the end of the game, we'll end up winning. So I'll just say all the hard work that me and my team had put in and all the great coaching that we have back home.
SPEAKER_02Is there one game out of any of those 36 that really stands out to you the most?
SPEAKER_00I'll say my freshman. I didn't play this game, but um it was in the playoffs and it had gone to I bet I'll say like a few overtimes. Um, and we ended up winning the game like with the kick. Um, like Jackson Henry, he had made the kick. So uh that's one of the games that stuck with me, even though I didn't play in that game.
SPEAKER_02What about one that you did play in? Is there one that sticks out to you?
SPEAKER_00I would say my first state championship that I won. Um that was like a big accomplishment for me. So um oh no, I was very excited after that.
SPEAKER_02As you should be. It's incredible. And then to be able to do it again is just incredible as well. Uh, I'd also be remiss if I didn't shine a lot a light on all the community work that you also do, not just at home, but also here in Tennessee. I mean, you haven't been here that long, but you've already made an impact since arriving on Rocky Top. You hosted a youth camp benefiting the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club at Greensboro. In December, you handed out toys to patients at Dolly Parton's Children's Hospital. And then this summer you hosted more than a hundred kids at a football camp here in Knoxville. You raised $12,520 for the Tennessee children's home. And then you matched your own money with $6,260. At only 18 years old, to be able to have that perspective of seeing the bigger picture of what your impact can have on people. Is that something that you've always had that knack for? Or is it something that your parents instilled in you? Where did that come from?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I'll definitely say it's like a family thing. You know, my parents uh always tell me I was blessed with a great opportunity and I need to, you know, share that with other people and make other people's lives better because um, you know, I might think something is hard, but somebody else could have something that's going on that's way harder than what I have going on. So I would say that's just the biggest thing. Like my family has uh helped me, you know, with that, and uh I like to thank them for that also.
SPEAKER_02Is there any interaction with any of the kids that really stands out to you that you'll remember, whether they, you know, freaked out, gave you a hug, ask for autographs? Like, does any one of those stand out to you?
SPEAKER_00I would say really all the um kids that I met at the children's hospital, you know, just seeing their faces whenever I would give them a toy or you know, just give them anything, you know, even just talking to them that that's the things that really uh stuck out to me the most.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. When you look back on the journey of how you got here today, thinking of the five-year-old kid playing, you know, pee-wee football, just sitting here as Tennessee's starting quarterback, is there a moment, whether it be a conversation with a coach or a family member or just somebody who had a really big influence on your life that you look back on and think that, oh wow, that was a big turning point for me, or that really left a lasting impact on me that I still carry?
SPEAKER_00I think it was like eighth grade whenever like my dad, I had gone out to do track. Um, and it was kind of just like a waste of my time. And my dad had came to me after and was like, uh, you can either, you know, start training for football or just, you know, do track and, you know, not know what's gonna happen. Um, and then I would say when I started just training every day, um, that was like the moment it changed for me.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, it's kind of like a light switch of like, okay, let's take this seriously, let's invest into this and see where it takes me. Because it obviously, you know, paid off for you really well. Okay, so then you arrived on Rocky Top in January at only 17 years old. I mean, you fast-tracked that with high school to get here to get prepared and to get settled in. Did you feel like the adjustment process was challenging? Did you feel like it was easy being able to settle into a new state, a new home, and dive right into the college football life?
SPEAKER_00Um, I felt like it was kind of easy, you know. Um, I had been on so many visits and uh built so many relationships with all the players. So when I got here, it was kind of just easy, you know. Uh had so many people to talk to. Um, I enjoyed being here with everybody. So it was just nothing, nothing for me to hate about it. So it was kind of easy.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, that's fair. And as a quarterback, you have, you know, the luxury of all these weapons, really talented guys around you that have had experience through this system before. You know, Braylon, Mike Matthews, Ethan Davis, Deshaun Bishop. What's it like knowing that you have such a high level of experience of guys around you to help support you and to help you succeed on the field?
SPEAKER_00I would say it's just it just feels great, you know, having a lot of great guys that I know make a lot of big plays and um just a lot of guys around me that have the same goal as me. And uh and just seeing them work, how they work and uh off season workouts and how they practice just it makes me push harder to want to be better every single day.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, because they've set the standard like so high for you guys coming in. Um have any of them kind of taken you under their wing and you felt like have really been able to help you adjust to everything?
SPEAKER_00I really say um All of them really. Uh everybody on the offense, you know, they just push me every day and just seeing how they work, it just I know it really talks for for itself. Um, it just made me want to, you know, do what they do. So they kind of lead by example and also was talking to me here and there. Um, especially when I had first got here, you know, just speaking up and being more vocal is one of the things that I really decided worked on, you know, from hearing that from them.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, that's good. Is there any piece of advice that they've also given you about what you're about to experience here with this first game coming up against Furman and as things really start to become real now that we're about to be in season?
SPEAKER_00Really, just but they always tell me, you know, just not try to do too much, just you know, keep knowing what I'm doing and do everything I do in practice.
SPEAKER_02Well, you've obviously been to Rocky Top before, you've seen Nealand Stadium, you've seen it packed out, you've heard how loud it can get, but you're about to experience it in a whole new way. Have you started to picture what it's going to be like and feel like as you are getting ready to run through the tea as the starter for Tennessee?
SPEAKER_00Uh yeah. I know I'm I'm very excited for it. Um I just can't wait. Can't wait till game day.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. What are you most looking forward to about a game day experiencing it as a player? Is it the ball walk? Is it running through the tea? Is it just hearing the crowd get crazy before kickoff? What is it that you're like most looking forward to?
SPEAKER_00I'll definitely say running through the tea. And I've seen it, seen the team run through it so many times. So I'm definitely excited to, you know, finally do it for the first time.
SPEAKER_02What would like five-year-old Faison think of all of this? Like just thinking back to that little kid who just loved to play football, being in the position that you are today.
SPEAKER_00You'd definitely be super proud. Um, when I was five, I didn't really know where what I was gonna do. I just seen the NFL, I didn't know too much about college, but you know, when I was five, I just wanted to go straight to the NFL.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. Hey, that's but always been the goal, and that's like important to keep that, you know, out in front of you and chase those dreams. What for those that don't know FaZon off the field and don't know you outside of the athlete that you are, how would you describe who FaZon Brandon is to Fall Nation and those that are gonna turn on their TV this fall and watch you playing on Saturdays?
SPEAKER_00I'll say just a very chill person. Um I can definitely like make jokes and stuff whenever I feel like the moment is, you know, needed to, but I'd say just a kind of like the same person every day.
SPEAKER_02Last question for you though. For Vol Nation, who is really excited to get to see you play for the first time here against Furman on Saturday, what can they expect to see out of FaZe on Brandon on the field?
SPEAKER_00I'd say just a competitor. Uh I'd say that would explain uh me the most. So just a great competitor.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, gonna go out there and compete and give it all you got? Yeah. And gosh, we're so excited for it. I mean, I can't believe it's really almost here. And, you know, good luck this season. We're excited to see what you do, and uh, can't wait to see you run through the teeth for the first time.
SPEAKER_00Hey, thank you.
SPEAKER_02Thanks so much for watching this episode of Everything Orange presented by First Horizon Bank. We again are so excited for another great year on Rocky Top. So stay tuned for all the upcoming guests that we have coming on the podcast this fall. We are so excited to bring you conversations from student athletes, coaches, alum, and even some special guests. So we'll see you next time. Bye, y'all.