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By Michael Gallagher
Sports Content Coordinator
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The Tennessee Volunteers were dealt a major blow this week when they learned they’d lost one of the key starters in their secondary for the entire 2026 season.
Safety Edrees Farooq suffered a right leg injury during practice on Friday that will sideline him for the entire year.
“He was transported [after practice] to UT Medical Center via ambulance for further evaluation,” On3’s Pete Nakos reported.
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Farooq started all 15 games for Tennessee last season, totaling 76 tackles, three passes defended, two interceptions (one of which was returned for a touchdown), four forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. He was UT’s third-leading tackler.
New defensive coordinator Jim Knowles recently gave Farooq a glowing review about his ability to adapt to his new scheme.
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“He picked up things quickly,” Knowles told reporters. “He put himself in position to make plays. There is one thing getting the scheme, that’s step one. Can you function within that scheme and make plays? I saw him make a lot of plays this spring that I was happy about.”
He was expected to play a bigger role for UT this season, but the Vols will now have to tap into their depth in the defensive backfield to replace him.
The most obvious successor is Penn State transfer Dejuan Lane. He logged 44 tackles, four passes defended, and one interception across two seasons with the Nittany Lions. Other options include Dylan Lewis and Sidney Walton.
T.J. Metcalf, a Michigan transfer who was an All-Big Ten honorable mention, is projected to be the Vols’ other starting safety.
Losing Farooq is another big blow for the Vols, who will also be without star edge-rusher Chaz Coleman. The four-star Penn State transfer didn’t even make it to fall camp with UT. He was dismissed from the program months ago after failing to report for spring practice.
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