{"id":647962,"date":"2026-01-02T11:33:11","date_gmt":"2026-01-02T11:33:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/647962\/"},"modified":"2026-01-02T11:33:11","modified_gmt":"2026-01-02T11:33:11","slug":"tennessee-football-cornerback-rickey-gibson-iii-makes-decision-on-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/647962\/","title":{"rendered":"Tennessee Football Cornerback Rickey Gibson III Makes Decision on Future"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\t\"Rickey<\/a>Rickey Gibson III (1) celebrates a pass break-up during a game against Kentucky at Neyland Stadium. Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. Cole Moore\/RTI<\/p>\n

Tennessee football star cornerback Rickey Gibson III has made a decision about his future. The rising redshirt-junior will enter the transfer portal and leave the Vols, according to a report<\/a> from On3. He will have two seasons of eligibility remaining.<\/p>\n

Gibson was a starter at cornerback to begin the 2025 season with expectations that he could play his way into being an NFL draft pick. However, just a few snaps into the season, he suffered an upper-body injury. He would not return for the remainder of the year as he fought to work his way back.<\/p>\n

In 2024, Gibson starred opposite of Jermod McCoy at cornerback. The tandem, both true sophomores, made one of the better young cores in the country that year for an elite defense. The future looked bright for the following season, but neither made an impact due to injury.<\/p>\n

Gibson nearly didn\u2019t suit up for the Vols at all in 2025, though. At the start of spring practice, he announced that he intended to enter the transfer portal during the spring window. He ultimately did not enter his name, though, and went through practice like normal.<\/p>\n

BREAKING: Tennessee CB Rickey Gibson III is entering the @TransferPortal<\/a>, his agent tells @On3Sports<\/a><\/p>\n

He\u2019s totaled 42 tackles, 4 PD, and 1 FF in his time with the Vols<\/p>\n

Will have 2 years of eligibility left<\/p>\n

Repped by @rosenhaussports<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/RlUbB6Fk7q<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/ZGZMM6aXWp<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) January 2, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

More From RTI:\u00a0Tennessee Football Reportedly Not Retaining Key Defensive Assistant Coach<\/a><\/p>\n

This is the second projected starter from Tennessee to depart for the portal this cycle. He joins left tackle Lance Heard as one of those key pieces the Vols will lose.<\/p>\n

It also leaves a question about who will play cornerback for Tennessee next year. Ty Redmond proved to be an effective option by the end of his true freshman season, but the role opposite of him is now open. If UT wants to fill it with a player actively on the roster, the top option would likely be Tre Poteat, who just rounded out his freshman season with little playtime.<\/p>\n

The safest option would probably be to go to the transfer portal for Gibson\u2019s replacement. This creates another spot that Tennessee will need to land an impact player at, joining a list mostly on defense.<\/p>\n

This news also comes on the same day that secondary coach Willie Martinez was let go by Tennessee. Assistant coach Earnest Thomas, who worked closely with cornerbacks, also was not retained. It\u2019ll be an entirely new defense for the Vols, as well, with Tim Banks fired after the season and Jim Knowles hired.<\/p>\n

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