Tennessee football news: Volunteers hit with brutal Edrees Farooq update
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Tennessee football absorbed a big loss with linebacker Arion Carter earning a two-game suspension. Head coach Josh Heupel is dealing with a brand new setback now. Which involves starting safety from 2025 Edrees Farooq.
Farooq will miss the entire 2026 season with a right leg injury, with Pete Nakos of On3 confirming the news Saturday. So Farooq joins Carter as two key early losses before the Vols play their season opener.
Carter can come back before SEC play, as Tennessee’s first games are against Furman and Georgia Tech. He’s also eligible to come back for the Sept. 19 Kennesaw State game.
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Farooq’s situation occurred Friday afternoon after practice. The safety got transported to UT Medical Center for further evaluation, Nakos adds.
Heupel and Tennessee loses a valuable tackling presence here. Farooq piled 76 tackles last season which lifted him to third on the team. He proved his ball skills too: Forcing four fumbles, breaking up three passes and picking off two passes.
So who will Heupel and brand new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, who comes via Penn State, lean into now?
Knowles does have a past Nittany Lions performer he can turn to: Dejuan Lane. Yet Lane’s not the only Big Ten talent coming to Knoxville. Michigan transfer TJ Metcalf rises as another contender for one of the safety spots.
Tennessee is aiming to return to the College Football Playoff stage after going 8-5 last season. The Vols broke through as one of the first 12-team playoff participants when the postseason expanded in 2024. Farooq signed with the ’24 class prior to Tennessee’s playoff run.
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