An SEC team that will play Tennessee in 2026 is reportedly the early leader for Vols transfer cornerback Rickey Gibson III

The Tennessee Vols didn’t want to lose to cornerback Rickey Gibson III to the NCAA transfer portal.

Zach Ragan Tennessee Volunteers News Writer
Add as preferred source on Google
Tennessee Vols transfer portal
Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK

An SEC program that will face off against the Tennessee Vols in 2026 is the “clear” early leader for UT transfer cornerback Rickey Gibson III.

Gibson, who missed the majority of the 2025 season after suffering a season-ending injury in the Vols’ first game of the year, is set to transfer after spending the first three seasons of his career at Tennessee.

According to On3’s Pete Nakos, Gibson is “lining up” a visit with the Texas A&M Aggies.

Nakos also noted that the Aggies are “the clear early leaders” for Gibson.

Tennessee will travel to College Station in November for a matchup against Texas A&M.

Tennessee didn’t want to lose Rickey Gibson to the transfer portal

The Vols are in the market for a transfer cornerback thanks to Gibson’s decision to transfer.

According to CBS Sports’ Chris Hummer, Tennessee didn’t want to lose Gibson to the portal.

“Tennessee has lost a lot of guys that they didn’t necessarily want to,” said Hummer late last week.

“Some of them they wanted to lose, some were contract negotiations. Rickey Gibson isn’t someone they wanted to lose. Tennessee has been making some tough decisions.”

Vols rising sophomore Ty Redmond, who was thrust into action in 2025 after Gibson’s injury, is expected to hold down one of the starting cornerback spots for Tennessee in 2026.