After a sub-par output from the 2025 season, and significant NFL draftee departures, the Vols have done the necessary work to rebuild the defensive back room to turn a glaring weakness to a powering strength for next season.

Here's a look at the backline of Jim Knowles' upcoming defense.

After an injury kept him sidelined for what would've been his final season with Tennessee, cornerback Jermod McCoy has officially called curtains with the Vols and declared for the NFL draft.  

In 2024, McCoy recorded 44 total tackles for Tennessee, adding an additional 4 interceptions to an impressive season. 

Joining McCoy in the draft are Colton Hood, Jalen McMurray and Andre Turrentine. 

In one season with Tennessee, Hood was perhaps the only positive of an under-performing 2025 secondary group.

Recording 50 tackles, eight pass deflections and an interception, the junior corner transfer from Colorado did more than enough to earn consideration as a high NFL draft pick in May. 

McMurray’s five-year college journey has officially come to an end as he looks to move on to the NFL after a senior season with totals of 56 tackles and two sacks. 

Turrentine played a full college career with the Volunteers and will be missed as he looks to earn a spot on an NFL squad in the upcoming draft. The senior DB recorded 67 total tackles and an INT in his last season with the Vols. 

After going down with an upper body injury in Tennessee’s first game of the season against Syracuse, Rickey Gibson III was shut down for the rest of his junior campaign.

In the aftermath of his 2025 misfortune, Gibson entered the transfer portal, ending his three-year relationship with Tennessee. A reunion will take place in November when the Volunteers travel to College Station to face Gibson's Texas A&M Aggies.

After an awkward and tense start to the 2025 season with Tennessee, defensive back Boo Carter left the Vols mid-year, announcing plans to enter the transfer portal. Carter has since found a new home with the Colorado Buffaloes. 

Colin Brazzell and Marcus Goree Jr. also transferred out of Knoxville last month and will play for Abilene Christian and Troy in the fall. 

The most notable returnees from Tennessee’s 2025 defense are Kaleb Beasley, Edrees Farooq, Tre Poteat and Ty Redmond. 

As the game of college football evolves and the age of Name, Image and Likeness in junction with the transfer portal shakes its foundation, teams must adapt or fall behind.  

2026 National champion Indiana set the blueprint of building a team though the portal and shooting to the top in just two seasons. Eyeing the same successes, the Vols did hit the portal hard this offseason. 

As a result of this new norm, Tennessee's new transfers will likely play most of the DB snaps this offseason while most returnees will play supplementing depth roles. 

As a freshman in 2025, Poteat made 12 tackles for the Vols. The rising sophomore is unlikely to play a large role with the team next season, as the DB room has more experienced and practiced players to turn to. 

After injuries sidelined several key DBs for the Vols last season, Beasley, Farooq and Redmond were pushed to step up in their absences. 

Beasley recorded 24 total tackles and a pass deflection, while Redmond was thrust into a starting corner role in just his freshman season. 

Struggling at times in the high-pressured role, Redmond steadily improved throughout the season and will likely play a key role for Tennessee’s defense for seasons to come. Redmond recorded 43 tackles, 11 pass deflections and three INTs in 2025. 

In his sophomore campaign in 2025, Farooq led all Vols DBs with 76 total tackles. The safety also forced four fumbles and snagged two interceptions. 

Farooq is likely to start alongside a transfer acquisition at safety next season.

Upon entering the 2026 offseason, the secondary of Tennessee's defense had to be a top priority for improvement. 

After losing players like Gibson, Hood and McCoy, the Vols were in dire need of a new unit to provide a solid backline of defense in the fall.

In addition to a solid incoming freshman class, the Vols made several splashes in the transfer portal (thanks in large part to new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles) and now have an experienced group of weapons sure to return the Volunteers defense to relevancy in 2026.

Tennessee has enrolled six freshmen from the class of 2026 to join their secondary squad. With an even split of three position players each, the cornerback and safety depth has been enhanced by these new Vols.

Highlighting the class of incoming DBs is four-star corner, Zay Anderson of Greenville, Tenn.

Joining Anderson in the cornerback room, are three star-recruits, Javonte Smith of Jackson, Tenn. and Jamyan Theodore of Chattanooga.

New safety signees include fellow three-star recruits, Jowell Combay, KJ McClain and Luke Thompson.

The prized additions to the secondary came from the transfer portal where Knowles got busy last month. 

Similar to the freshman class, Knowles and the Volunteers put an equal emphasis on transfer corner and safety needs, snagging four a piece in January.

Joining his defensive coordinator and several of his Nittany Lions teammates, Dejuan Lane joined the exodus from Penn State to Knoxville in January and is set to play a key role in the 2026 season.

Last season with PSU, Lane, a rising junior, recorded 25 tackles.

With his 6-foot-2, 212-pound frame, Lane is a physical safety who can provide corners a comfortable level of support but can also bring the boom at the line of scrimmage when called upon.

Along with Lane, Tennessee secured transfer signings from DJ Burks of Appalachian State, TJ Metcalf of Michigan and Qua Moss of Kansas State.

In his junior season at App. State in 2025, Burks recorded 73 total tackles, two forced fumbles and two interceptions.

Also, a junior last season, Metcalf recorded 58 total tackles and an interception for Michigan. Metcalf played his first two years of college ball at Arkansas.

Rounding out the safety group and playing his final collegiate season with the Volunteers, Moss recorded 41 total tackles, a forced fumble and two interceptions for the Wildcats last season.

Tennessee snagged College Football Playoff experienced cornerback Jadais Richard of Miami in January to highlight their improved DB room.

In a smaller role with the Hurricanes in 2025, Richard saw his numbers take a dip from seasons prior, but the senior still recorded several tackles, and has more to give next season in Knoxville.

Alongside Richard comes Colorado transfer Isaiah Hardge, Kaylin Lee of Auburn and Tevis Metcalf of Michigan (brother of TJ).

A unique athlete, Hardge played both sides of the ball for CU last season, catching five passes for over 30 yards. The incoming junior made 14 total tackles on defense as well.

The SEC experienced Lee joins the Vols after a season of 31 tackles and an interception with the Auburn Tigers.

Tevis Metcalf joins his brother TJ on Rocky Top after recording just four tackles in 2025 with Michigan.