Gibson apparently got a new deal to stay in Knoxville.
Just one season ago Tennessee saw nearly their entire cornerback room flip due to the transfer portal and graduation. As things turned out, it went pretty well.
Jermod McCoy came in and was the top guy from day one, making a real impact at several points throughout the season. Rickey Gibson emerged alongside of McCoy, making a big leap in year two with the program.
Tennessee appeared set at the position going into 2025, and then things got complicated.
McCoy suffered a torn ACL while training early in the offseason, which obviously puts his availability in doubt for the fall. We’ve seen ACL timelines shrink over the past decade — just look at Tennessee point guard Zakai Zeigler for reference — but every case is still different. McCoy suffered the injury on January 15th. He would need to make a full recovery in roughly eight months to be available for the opener in the fall.
Tennessee flirted with a name or two in the transfer portal during the first wave, but ultimately didn’t take anyone.
And last week things took another turn.
Gibson announced plans to enter the transfer portal during the second wave following spring practices. It was a fairly obvious play for more NIL cash with Tennessee’s feet to the fire — and it appears to have worked. Gibson was a must-have for the Volunteers and his camp knew it. With all the leverage, why not make a play for more? That’s one of the ugly parts of the current college football landscape.
Regardless, it appears a new deal was hammered out and Gibson will be participating on the field when Tennessee opens spring practice on Friday. According to On3’s Pete Nakos, Gibson never left the team and now will not enter the portal after spring practices.
Gibson posted six pass breakups, 32 tackles and two tackles for loss last season in his first year as a starter. The former four-star prospect now very well could be Tennessee’s top option at cornerback when they open the season in Atlanta against Syracuse. Again, that’s all up to the recovery process of McCoy.
Tennessee will hold spring practices through mid-April, where the Orange and White Game will cap the period on April 12th.