KNOXVILLE — Freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon and first-year defensive coordinator Jim Knowles passed their first respective tests Saturday afternoon for the Tennessee Volunteers.
With ease.
Brandon accounted for five touchdowns, and the Vols kept the Paladins from crossing the goal line until early in the fourth quarter during a 56-9 pummellng before a sellout crowd of 101,915 in Neyland Stadium, which was less than half full after halftime due to the 93-degree temperature. Tennessee has now won all six of its season openers under coach Josh Heupel, including five by more than 30 points.
“I would say that I was definitely nervous, but I wasn’t too nervous,” Brandon said after his collegiate debut. “I felt like I had a great week of preparation, so I felt like I would go out there and do pretty good. I have a lot of great guys around me to help me do that, also.”
In the first four minutes of the second half, Brandon completed touchdown passes of 55 and 57 yards to junior receiver Mike Matthews, turning a 28-0 halftime advantage into a 42-0 lead. The 6-foot-4, 225-pounder from Greensboro, North Carolina, completed 13 of 17 passes for 226 yards and three touchdowns, with the five-star signee also rushing 10 times for 68 yards and two scores.