Faizon Brandon records historic SEC performance since Cam Newton
Tennessee freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon has historic SEC performance since Cam Newton in 2010.
Freshman Tennessee quarterback Faizon Brandon made his college debut against Furman in Week 1 of the 2026 season. The No. 18 Vols (1-0) secured a 56-9 victory over the Paladins at Neyland Stadium. Brandon's impressive performance included five passing touchdowns, 68 rushing yards, and two rushing touchdowns on 10 attempts. He completed 13-of-17 passes for 226 yards and three touchdowns.
According to SEC Network, this marks the first time since 2010, when Cam Newton set a precedent at Auburn against Arkansas State, that an SEC player has recorded three passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns in his first FBS start.
Brandon's success in his debut was attributed to his natural flow on the field. He emphasized the importance of adapting to the pace of the game and making positive plays when opportunities arise. Brandon expressed his confidence in his development, crediting his training with DO (Derrick Owens) for increasing his strength and speed.
As for the game's pace, he initially found it fast, but it gradually became smoother as the game progressed. In terms of vision during the game, Brandon envisioned the plays in his head the night before, focusing on executing the strategies effectively.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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