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Hello. This is the Josh and Swain Newsletter, a quick roundup of the week’s top stories and topics involving Tennessee and the sports world.
Here’s what we have for you today:
What to expect from freshman QB Faizon Brandon
Remaining questions for Tennessee’s football team
The latest in the battle between LSU and the SEC
Tennessee Football set to honor an icon
Fair Expectations for Faizon
It’s Faizon Brandon time at Tennessee | via UT Athletics
Tennessee coach Josh Heupel made it official last week: Faizon Brandon will start at quarterback for the Vols when they open the season against Furman on Saturday.
A true freshman starting at QB in the SEC?
That creates both excitement and concern.
The reason to be excited?
Brandon was a five-star prospect in the 2026 class (ranked No. 10 overall, per the Rivals Industry Ranking) and has all kinds of talent.
He looks like an SEC player already.
Tennessee lists Brandon at 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds.
He has a big arm and elite athleticism.
Tennessee defensive end Jordan Norman compared trying to tackle Brandon to chasing after Lamar Jackson.
Pretty exciting!
So… what’s the concern?
Well, Brandon is a freshman who just turned 18 on June 1.
And playing in the SEC isn’t easy.
That’s why it will be important for Heupel and UT’s offensive staff to put Brandon in positions to succeed.
And Brandon’s teammates will need to provide help.
All quarterback situations are not created equal.
Brandon benefits from an offensive line with the potential to be one of the best in the SEC.
The Vols always run the ball well in Heupel’s offense, and All-SEC running back DeSean Bishop is back to make it happen again.
Braylon Staley and Mike Matthews lead a talent receiving corps.
So Brandon won’t be expected to do everything.
What is a fair expectation for Brandon this year?
In 2024, redshirt freshman Nico Iamaleava threw for 2,616 yards, 19 touchdowns and five interceptions while completing 63.8 percent of his passes.
Can Brandon provide similar production — or better?
The standard at quarterback under Heupel was set by Hendon Hooker, who earned SEC Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2022.
But don’t expect that from Brandon right away.
Instead, watch to see if Brandon can grow into that level of play during his time at Tennessee.
🟠 Swain’s Slant
"Hendon didn’t throw for more than 1,600 yards in a single season until he got to Tennessee. And then he gets to Tennessee, and the rest is history. I think (Brandon) can have more success than Hendon did earlier in his career.
By year two or year three, can Faizon have a 2021 Hendon type of season? Absolutely. He has the tools and the supporting cast. … When someone has the athletic ability, are we not going to just admit that he has it because we’re afraid of the expectations?”
REMAINING QUESTIONS
The status of Ethan Davis will be worth monitoring all season | via UT Athletics
Brandon will be the biggest topic for Tennessee entering the season.
But there are other questions for the Vols to answer once the season kicks off.
Here are some key questions we’re asking ahead of UT’s season opener against Furman.
➡️ Can Ethan Davis stay healthy?
No one has to wonder if Davis can make plays on the field.
The bigger question is whether he will be on the field or not.
Davis is a playmaking tight end that creates a mismatch for pretty much any defense.
He would be a great option for a young quarterback.
But Davis, who’s dealt with multiple injuries during his first three seasons at Tennessee, missed most of UT’s practice time in August.
Will Tennessee be able to count on Davis this season?
🟠 Swain’s Slant
“Can (Davis) play? And how long can he play? And can he be durable. Until the third wide receiver steps up … the 12-personnel (two tight ends on the field) may be Tennessee’s best personnel grouping. IF Ethan Davis is healthy and doing what he’s supposed to do — and DaSaahn Brame. Give me Brame, Ethan Davis, Mike Matthews and Braylon Staley in the passing game over three receivers right now … until I see something different from someone who stands up and takes that position for the third wide receiver.”
➡️ Is Tennessee’s defensive line ready?
The Vols have talent and potential on the D-line.
Will they make plays consistently?
Daevin Hobbs is similar to Ethan Davis.
Hobbs has shown his potential as an SEC player, but he’s struggled to stay healthy.
His status was once again a question in August.
Can Hobbs lead UT’s front unit this fall?
Older players like Xavier Gilliam (Penn State transfer), Nathan Robinson and Tyre Weathersby will be asked to lead as well.
And we’ll watch to see if Tennessee’s talented sophomore class, including Mariyon Dye and Ethan Utley, are ready for the SEC grind.
➡️ Who is WR3?
Sophomores Radarious Jackson and Travis Smith Jr. and freshman TK Keys are battling to be the third starting wide receiver.
Smith has appeared to have the edge, but the competition to replace Chris Brazzell is ongoing.
As Swain said earlier, he’s looking for someone to emerge as the third receiver.
Will that happen immediately?
Swain told us on Monday what he wants to see from all the receivers — not just the young players — as they try to build off last year’s success.
🟠 Swain’s Slant
“Catch everything. Block for your brothers. Be physical in the running game and run dudes to the coolers. That’s what I want to see.”
➡️ What will the Derek Owings effect be?
Josh Heupel’s hire of Owings as Tennessee’s new strength coach was perhaps the most important move of the offseason.
We know that players have improved their size, strength and speed.
Will that carry over to the field this fall?
It’s not just about physical toughness; the Vols lacked mental toughness at times last season.
Tennessee fans were embarrassed by UT’s showing against Vanderbilt to end the 2025 regular season.
Heupel knew something had to change — and he hired Owings to make it happen.
LSU VS THE SEC
Football season is here, but the legal battle between LSU and the SEC continues.
And it appears the leadership among the other 15 SEC schools have had enough.
“High-ranking SEC university executives are exploring legal and internal avenues intended to address the school's plans to add former professional athletes to its rosters, including extreme measures such as boycotting competition against the Tigers, sanctioning the school with probation or even expulsion, and/or filing a federal legal challenge.”
Dellenger noted in his story that these talks are "not league driven, but membership led.”
LSU continues to push for former pro players to play for the Tigers this fall.
That includes two former Ole Miss players, tight end Dae'Quan Wright and defensive tackle Zxavian Harris.
Their attempt to play for LSU would violate two SEC rules: the pro-player ban and a prohibition on intraconference moves outside of the portal window.
So what happens next?
With Kiffin in the middle of this, the answer could be anything.
HONORING DOLLY
The helmet sticker to honor the late Dolly Parton | via UT Athletics
Tennessee announced on Monday that it will honor the late Dolly Parton by wearing a helmet sticker all season.
From Josh Heupel at his Monday press conference:
“All that she’s meant across the world, this country, and certainly the Queen of East Tennessee. A lady that was extremely proud of her roots. You look at her impact, just her ability to give back, make an impact to people, certainly here in East Tennessee. She means a lot to people across this country, but certainly here inside the state of Tennessee, too. So we’ll be wearing a sticker patch on the back of our helmet to recognize her, her accomplishments, and everything that she’s meant and (her) impact here on Tennessee. “
It’s a fitting tribute for someone who meant so much to people throughout the world, especially in the state of Tennessee.
Have you ever seen Dolly’s commencement speech that she delivered at UT in 2009?
We’ll leave it here to close out today’s newsletter. Like anything Dolly produced, it’s worth your time.
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