There’s a transfer cornerback that would make a lot of sense for the Tennessee Vols as a replacement for Rickey Gibson
The Tennessee Vols are in need of a transfer cornerback with Rickey Gibson reportedly entering the portal.
The Tennessee Vols are in need of a transfer cornerback with junior cornerback Rickey Gibson III reportedly entering the portal.
Gibson, who suffered a season-ending injury in Tennessee’s win against Syracuse in the season opener, was expected to return to Knoxville in 2026.
The Vols’ only returning cornerback with starting experience is rising sophomore Ty Redmond.
There’s a transfer cornerback that would make a lot of sense for Tennessee
Tennessee will likely evaluate several cornerback options in an effort to find the best fit in new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles’ system.
One option that would make a lot of sense for the Volunteers is Penn State transfer cornerback AJ Harris.
Harris, a former five-star recruit who started his career at Georgia, played in Knowles’ defense at Penn State in 2025.
Harris had a terrific season at Penn State in 2024, totaling 48 tackles, one interception, and five passes defensed. 2025, however, was an up-and-down season for Harris, as he was benched during Penn State’s loss to Northwestern before returning to the starting lineup the following game.
Despite getting benched last season, Harris is still a player with significant upside. Last summer, in fact, ESPN listed Harris as a first-round pick in a mock draft.
“Harris has shown ball-hawking skills and loves to press and jam receivers,” wrote ESPN’s Matt Miller in June. “He’s still a bit green, having started only one season, but last season’s tape — along with Penn State’s track record in developing defenders — makes Harris one of the most promising corners in the country.”
Harris started 26 games for Penn State over the last two seasons, totaling 81 tackles, five tackles for loss, and one interception.
As for the connection to Knowles, Harris told The Daily Collegian in September that he liked his fit in Knowles’ defense.
“(Knowles) allows me to look at the quarterback,” said Harris. “I could still play my press man. I feel like I could still kind of showcase everything that I do…There’ll come a time when I could showcase my talents, and I’ll just let that take care of itself.”
Harris is also a terrific athlete, as evidenced by his inclusion on 247Sports’ “freaks list” in 2023.
“AJ Harris had the third-highest vertical jump at The Opening Finals back in 2021 as he launched 40.2 inches in the air right before his junior season,” wrote Andrew Ivins in 2023. “That’s certainly notable, but so is his 4.54 in the 40-yard dash and his 21.9 MPH mark on a Catapult GPS tracking system. Harris is a military brat who was born in California and spent most of his childhood in Germany, where he grew up playing basketball and soccer. He’s a corner by trade, but he’s also a dangerous return man who’s scored eight times on special teams over the course of his prep career.”
Tennessee will have numerous options to consider in the portal. But it may be hard to find a better fit than Harris, given his previous experience in Knowles’ system and his upside as a cornerback.
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