A Thank You to Faizon Brandon(QB Grimsley HS)

A Thank You to Faizon Brandon
from Mike Fanning with GreensboroSports.com

Dear Faizon,

As you prepare to trade the Grimsley blue for the Tennessee Volunteer orange, I wanted to write you a note of appreciation. I am writing this not just as a member of the media who has called your plays and interviewed you, but as a witness to the legacy you are leaving behind. You won on the field, you won in the courtroom, and most importantly, you won the right way.

In an era where the “business” of high school sports feels like it is starting to overshadow the game itself, you became a rare example of how hard work, loyalty, and principle can still prevail. You showed us all—broadcasters, fans, and teammates—what it truly means to be a leader. I’ve had a front-row seat to your development. While your talent is undeniable, I am writing this to thank you for the decisions you made off the field and the character you displayed on it.

First, I want to recognize your courage in standing up to the State of North Carolina regarding Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights. When the debate heated up, the easy road would have been to transfer to a private school or move to a state like Georgia or Florida to chase endorsements immediately. Instead, you chose the hard road of litigation. It is not every day that a high school student sues a state government. To have your family placed at the center of a heated national debate on NIL took moxie. By staying and fighting, you didn’t just win for yourself; you cleared the path for every public-school athlete in North Carolina who comes after you.

Second was your decision to return to the field this year. After suffering that hand injury in the first game, the logic of modern recruitment would have told you to shut it down. With your scholarship secured and a bright future in Knoxville waiting, the “smart” business move would have been to protect your developmental timeline and prepare for college. Instead, you chose your team. You chose rehab, you chose to come back, and you put your team’s goals over your own self-interest. In a time when “opting out” is common, you opted in, demonstrating that the name on the front of your jersey still mattered more than the name on the back.

Finally, and perhaps most impressively, is how you handled yourself through it all. I had the opportunity to interview you several times as the spotlight got brighter and brighter. Despite being one of the top recruits in the country, you remained incredibly grounded. Every time we talked, you redirected the praise. You wanted to talk about your coaches, your offensive line, your receivers, your team. You consistently proved that true leadership isn’t about standing above them, but standing with them, embodying a selfless humility that I will always remember.

The numbers, of course, illustrate your dominance. In the 45 games you played for the Whirlies, the production was staggering: 451 completions for 7,478 yards with a 70% completion rate. You posted 90 passing touchdowns against just 10 interceptions, while adding 1,494 rushing yards and another 24 touchdowns on the ground. Gatorade North Carolina Football Player of the Year, North Carolina Mr. Football, MaxPreps All-American, an Academic All-American, a 35-1 career record as a starter and back to back North Carolina State Football Championships.

Those stats and accolades are elite, but what I will remember is the character of the young man who produced them. You set a standard that should be the template for every player who puts on a helmet. Vol Nation is getting a phenomenal quarterback, but they are getting an even better person.

Thank you for the memories, and best of luck in Knoxville.

Sincerely,

On behalf of not just myself, but all the broadcasters who have covered you.