Tennessee cornerback Rickey Gibson III is planning to enter the transfer portal, according to a report from On3 Sports on Tuesday afternoon.
The portal will open for the spring window on April 16 before closing on April 25.
Gibson has been with the Tennessee program for two seasons and saw a significant uptick in action during his sophomore season in 2024. As a freshman, Gibson played in all 13 games as a specialist and a backup cornerback, tallying nine tackles and one pass breakup on the season.
The six-foot, 185-pound defensive back from Trussville, AL, saw an elevated role during his sophomore season with starts in 12 of Tennessee’s 13 games this season opposite of Jermod McCoy. Gibson missed the season-opener against Chattanooga with an injury but returned to be a key factor in the Vols’ secondary.
In 12 games last season, Gibson recorded 32 tackles, two tackles for loss, five pass break-ups, and one forced fumble. Gibson drew praise from McCoy before the Vols’ playoff game against Ohio State this past December.
“In all parts of the game,” McCoy said on where he saw Gibson improve throughout the season. “He’s become way smarter, way more physical attacking the ball, making plays on the ball. Everything he does, I see him getting better in.”
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Following Tennessee’s loss to Ohio State, the rising junior was projected to return to his starting role opposite of McCoy for the Vols’ defense as they push for a second straight playoff appearance in 2025. Suddenly, with the report on Gibson and an offseason injury to McCoy, Tennessee’s starting cornerbacks are now both off the table moving forward into spring camp.
On Jan. 15, VolQuest reported that McCoy suffered a torn ACL during an offseason workout in his hometown in Texas. With a projected recovery timeline of six to nine months, it’s still too early to know what sort of impact it will have on the early portion of Tennessee’s season.
Tennessee could turn to Jalen McMurray, a rising redshirt senior who posted 14 tackles in a rotational role last season, or Kaleb Beasley, a rising sophomore who was formerly ranked as the No. 1 player in the state of Tennessee on the recruiting trail. Tennessee started McMurray alongside McCoy in the season-opener last year with Gibson sidelined.
If Tennessee can’t get Gibson to return from the portal, the Vols may also look to the transfer portal themselves in the spring for some replacement help.
Stay tuned to Rocky Top Insider for more Tennessee football coverage leading to spring training camp.
*This story will be updated
