Tennessee cornerback Rickey Gibson III used some of his NIL funds to give back to his hometown community of Trussville, AL, this week.
As announced by the Hewitt-Trussville Football social media account on Wednesday, Gibson gave a $5,000 donation to his former high school program.
“Really great moment today as 2023 Alumnus [Rickey Gibson III] donated back to his high school program and shared a great word with our players. Thank you Rickey and we are super proud of you!!”
Really great moment today as 2023 Alumnus @RickeyGibson03 donated back to his high school program and shared a great word with our players. Thank you Rickey and we are super proud of you!! @Vol_Football pic.twitter.com/A7rqPlBkhf
— Hewitt-Trussville FB (@HuskyFast) May 15, 2025
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As a four-star product of Hewitt-Trussville in the 2023 class, Gibson chose Tennessee over 31 other D1 programs and 17 Power Five programs. Gibson has played in 25 games for Tennessee with a starting role during his sophomore season in 2024 on the opposite side of cornerback Jermod McCoy. In 12 games last season, Gibson tallied 32 total tackles, 25 solo tackles, two tackles for loss, five defended passes, and one forced fumble.
Gibson looked to be potentially heading for the transfer portal in late February, but wound up staying with Tennessee for spring training camp the following month. With McCoy nursing an ACL injury that occurred in January, Gibson’s role on the other side of the field has given confidence that the Vols still have a standout playmaker at the cornerback position with McCoy recovering.
“He finished strong last year, right? I mean, he was definitely playing his best football at the end of the year, and some of the things that we talked about after the season is what’s it going to take (to take) the next step forward moving forward,” Tennessee DB Coach Willie Martinez said of Gibson in March. “It was going to be his leadership. He’s extremely smart. Obviously he’s talented with his athleticism, and he made a bunch of plays for us in moments that really mattered.”
Martinez is looking at Gibson to take the next step in his leadership as he enters into his third collegiate season and second as a starter in Tennessee’s secondary.
“So we wanted and we said, ‘Look, let’s get better at pushing the guys in the meeting room. Be a leader as far as – because they’re going to respect you because you’re one of the best players, and he’s done that,” Martinez continued on to say. “He’s really been elite this spring and this offseason. His attention to detail both on and off the field have been tremendous. He’s a really good teammate. He’s picking a guy up that’s down, which is one of those young players, and then obviously he’s praising them when they do it right. So his growth as a leader has been tremendous ever since the season has finished, both on and off the field.”
This is the second time this offseason that we’ve seen a Tennessee football player use their NIL funds to give back to their hometown community. In January, Tennessee rising redshirt-freshman receiver Braylon Staley donated $6,000 to his former program of Strom Thurmond High School in Johnston, South Carolina.
Today, Braylon came back to Thurmond to be a blessing because God has blessed him to be just that. Man, when I tell you that you never know who you’re coaching or who’s in your building!! Coaches, we appreciate you guys so much! Luv you guys. @BrayStaley @Vol_Football pic.twitter.com/Is3IFeFks9
— Brian Staley (@BrianStaley_12) January 17, 2025
