Three former Tennessee defenders have already started to make their mark at new stops, and the early returns have been mixed in different ways.
The most dramatic moment among the group came from Carter, who drew plenty of frustration from Tennessee fans when he decided to transfer. He landed at Colorado, where his first two games have shown both the good and the shaky.
Against Georgia Tech, he was part of a late-game breakdown when Dalen Penson got loose and set up a potential game-winning field goal. Carter then helped erase the mistake by blocking the kick, and Colorado escaped with a 14-13 win.
Across two games, he has totaled five tackles and one forced fumble as the Buffaloes have opened 2-0.
Rickey Gibson, another former Tennessee starting defensive back, also moved on this offseason and ended up at Texas A&M. His start with the Aggies has been uneven.
In Texas A&M’s win over Arizona State on Saturday, Gibson was beaten deep several times and gave up some big plays. Through the team’s first two games, he has two tackles.
Ross was the transfer that stung plenty of Vols fans for a different reason. A five-star recruit out of high school, he was expected to keep climbing, and that kind of upside made his departure hit harder.
At LSU, he has looked like a player who is starting to cash in on that promise. In the Tigers’ opener against Clemson, Ross picked off a pass and took it back for a touchdown in LSU’s 51-10 win.
He followed that up with another strong outing against Louisiana Tech and now has seven tackles, 1.5 sacks, and that interception on the season.
In Other News...
Tennessee's Kennesaw State Game Has A Knoxville Twist Fans Will Notice
No. 14 Tennessee gets a familiar-tinged matchup in Week 3 when Kennesaw State comes to Neyland Stadium on SEC Network, with the two programs meeting for the first time. For Vols fans, the interest goes beyond a nonconference game against a new opponent, because this one comes with a Knoxville connection tucked into the Owls roster.
Kennesaw State redshirt freshman kicker Daniel Kinney is a former Bearden High School athlete, giving the trip to Knoxville a little extra meaning. Kinney has already seen game action for the Owls and has handled both field goals and extra points, so even in a game that figures to draw attention for Tennessees side, there is at least one local name worth keeping an eye on once the ball gets kicked. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Fans Now Have A Massive Neyland Change To Debate
A major new development is set to reshape the edge of Tennessee footballs home turf, with 865 Neyland officially announced as an entertainment district and 24-story hotel and residential tower adjacent to Neyland Stadium. The privately funded, $288 million project is slated to bring hotel rooms, luxury residences and condo units to one of the most recognizable corners of Knoxville, along with outdoor plazas, LED displays and a mix of dining and entertainment options.
Construction is expected to begin in 2026, with completion projected for 2028-2029, giving fans plenty of time to debate what the area around the stadium will look like once the dust settles. For a place so tied to game days and tradition, the scale of the change is hard to ignore, and the questions around how the new district will fit alongside the existing atmosphere are likely to linger well beyond the announcement. [Read more 🡒]
Which Former Vol Delivered Week 1s Biggest NFL Moment
Opening week of the NFL season turned into a showcase for several former Tennessee standouts, with Josh Palmer delivering the kind of moment that grabs attention well beyond a box score. The Bills receiver came down with the game-winning touchdown, while Trey Smith and Darnell Wright each handled full-time work for their clubs by starting and playing every offensive snap. It was a strong early reminder that Tennessees pipeline to the league still runs through players capable of shaping meaningful games right away.
There was more than one Volunteer footprint across the league, too, as other Tennessee alumni made their debuts or got on the field in season openers. The broader takeaway for Tennessee fans is familiar and encouraging: the programs recent veterans are not just hanging around NFL rosters, they are showing up in roles that matter. Even with one headline moment stealing the spotlight, Week 1 offered a fuller snapshot of how many former Vols are carving out real jobs on Sundays. [Read more 🡒]