Nobody hears freshman

Faizon Brandon is a first-year quarterback, but David Sanders Jr. says the Tennessee huddle does not treat him like one.

Poise earned the line's trust

Sanders praised Brandon's command at his latest press conference, saying the quarterback has already won over the offensive line.

Tested at Georgia Tech

That trust showed up on the road, where Tennessee had to work through real adversity in Atlanta and Brandon held steady.

He never flinched

Crowd noise did not shrink him. Sanders said Brandon's voice cut through the stadium and reached every lineman.

“He just never flinched. His voice was demanding in the huddle, and we could hear him even throughout the crowd noise.”

Presence over arm talent

For an offense leaning on a young quarterback, that kind of command matters as much as arm strength or athleticism.

A blocked punt, no panic

Georgia Tech wiped out Tennessee's early momentum with a blocked punt. Brandon kept working his reads instead of pressing.

Trusting the process

Sanders said Brandon stayed patient through the progression and kept talking to the line rather than forcing a throw.

“He wasn't making bad decisions. He was going through his reads, trusting the process and communicating with the O-line.”

More than the play call

Brandon looks teammates in the eye, speaks clearly and adds encouragement when a big situation comes up.

Fourth and two

Before one short-yardage snap, Brandon set the tone himself. The youngest player in the huddle was the one pushing.

“He's like, 'Let's go. Let's get this. It's fourth-and-two. We're going to go get it.'”

He stays in the pocket

Instead of bailing at the first sign of pressure, Brandon gives his blockers time to read blitzes and finish their assignments.

“He trusts us to pick up the blitzes. We just let him do his job.”

Talking protection presnap

Sanders said Brandon also handles protection identifications with the running backs before the ball is snapped.

When he takes off

Brandon's mobility creates plays outside the pocket, but it tests the tackles, who have to know when to let go and avoid holding. Sanders joked that sometimes all he sees is No. 11 flying past him.

The mental game

Sanders says the line plays hard and finishes blocks. The problems are communication and execution, not toughness.

“Everybody's playing with a lot of physicality. Trying to finish blocks, trying to play with effort. It's just all the mental game right now.”

Backs covering the mistakes

Tennessee's rushing numbers look strong, but Sanders believes talented running backs have been papering over blocking errors.

Five men, one unit

Sanders included himself in the critique after a rough opener, practiced harder, and played better in game two. The line goes when all five move as one.