Tennessee football loses starting safety Edrees Farooq for 2026 season with torn patellar tendon

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Tennessee Volunteers safety Edrees Farooq is expected to miss the 2026 college football season with a torn patellar tendon in his right knee. He was hurt during Friday’s practice on Aug. 14. He was carted off the field and taken by ambulance to UT Medical Center for further evaluation.

Tennessee spokesperson Bill Martin told local media that Farooq suffered a lower-body injury. Reporters at practice said the ambulance arrived with its lights on. Farooq was seen sitting up on the cart as he was loaded in. Tennessee continued its seventh preseason practice while it happened.

The 6-foot, 202-pound junior started all 13 games last season. He made 76 tackles, which tied for third on the team. He added two interceptions, three pass breakups and four forced fumbles. Those four forced fumbles tied for second in the SEC and tied for sixth in the FBS.

DC Jim Knowles loses top safety three weeks before the opener

The safety position is central to what new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles runs, which often uses three-safety looks. Tennessee brought in five new safeties this offseason because of it.

Knowles praised the Maryland native repeatedly this spring and summer. He said after spring practice that Farooq had “established himself as the top safety” on the team.

“Safety-wise, didn’t really know what to expect there,” Knowles said before camp started. “Safety and nickel, we had to bring guys in because we were light in those areas. I’m pleased with their performance.”

“Really liked what Edrees did. Didn’t know that much about him. Liked what he did.”

Farooq had a pick-six in a spring scrimmage. He had another one in practice earlier last week.

Dejuan Lane, Dylan Lewis are next up at safety

With Farooq out for the year, the Volunteers will need someone to step up. Michigan transfer T.J. Metcalf holds the free safety job. He was All-Big Ten honorable mention last season and started at Arkansas in 2024.

Penn State transfer Dejuan Lane is the likely replacement at strong safety. He played for Knowles at Penn State last season, so he already knows the calls. Lane logged 290 snaps as a rotational safety, including a career-high 66 against Clemson in the Pinstripe Bowl. He finished with 30 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and one sack in 13 games.

Sophomore Dylan Lewis is also in the mix. He impressed Knowles in spring practice after playing just 21 defensive snaps as a freshman. Sophomore Sidney Walton played 104 defensive snaps last season, 40 of them in SEC games, and made seven tackles in 10 games.

Also worth monitoring are Qua Moss, who projects as the team’s starting nickel corner, and his backup Isaiah Hardge, who could also fit in for more playing time in 2026.

Tennessee loses three defensive players before season

Farooq joins Miami transfer cornerback Jadais Richard, who is out with an upper body injury. Plus, Sophomore linebacker Jaedon Harmon tore his ACL. Both were ruled out for the season before camp reached its second week.

Tennessee opens the season Sept. 5 against Furman at Neyland Stadium with kickoff set for 3:30 p.m. ET on SEC Network+ and ESPN+.

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