Touted Tennessee Player Changes Plans in College Football Transfer Portal
The Tennessee Volunteers were on the field for the first time this spring on Friday. With their first spring practice, the Volunteers appeared to receive good news about a potential transfer. 247Sports’ Patrick Brown reported Tennessee starting cornerback Rickey Gibson III took the field for the team’s first spring practice. That was noteworthy because in late Feb., Gibson indicate plans to enter the transfer portal.
“The former 247Sports Composite four-star prospect started all 12 games he played for Tennessee as a sophomore in 2024, but cast uncertainty on his future with the program last week by telling On3 of his plans to hit the portal,” Brown wrote. “His presence on Friday morning, however, appears to be an encouraging sign that his future is at Tennessee, though things can change quickly in this new era of college football.” On3’s Pete Nakos reported on March 6 that Gibson “remains with the team” and “is 
Gibson has played the past two seasons at Tennessee. The cornerback posted 32 combined tackles, including two tackles for loss with five pass defenses and one forced fumble in 2024.
The Tennessee Volunteers have received a hard commitment from the top quarterback in the 2026 college football recruiting class. The Volunteers now have their eyes on the No. 1 ranked receiver for 2026.
On3’s Matt Ray argued Tennessee is “entrenched in another heavyweight battle” for receiver prospect Tristen Keys.
247 Sports, which has Keys ranked as the No. 1 receiver and fourth-best prospect in the 2026 class, named the Volunteers as the heavy favorite to sign Keys. But the wideout also has official visits scheduled with the Alabama Crimson Tide, Auburn Tigers, LSU Tigers, Miami Hurricanes and Texas A&M Aggies.
With these visits, Keys began developing a relationship with No. 1 2026 quarterback prospect and Vols commit Faizon Brandon.
“He is a great guy and a great quarterback,” Keys said of Brandon during an Oct. interview with On3. “I got to watch him play last night and it was amazing. Having a relationship with a quarterback that you know can sling it is important.
“You want to find those relationships with a QB that can get you the ball, and I feel like our relationship is strong.”
Brandon seems to be continuing to build this relationship by hyping up the receiver on social media.
