Tennessee Football lost five defensive backs to the transfer portal during the offseason. But one player who decided to remain in Knoxville, despite the schematic transition and the arrival of new competition, was safety Edrees Farooq.
The rising junior has played two seasons for the Volunteers, but really started to show up in a meaningful way during his sophomore season in 2025. Farooq started all 13 games at the safety position, racking up 76 tackles, five pass deflections, and two interceptions. He also forced four fumbles on the season, which was an SEC-best mark for individual players.
“I saw the guys that were coming in and I’m familiar with some faces, so it was just like, I see those guys as my brothers now,” Farooq said during spring camp when asked if he gave any consideration to the transfer portal. “I want them to come and join me and build to go to the national championship. I want to play with guys that’s like a team, so we can build the chemistry and play together.”
Farooq’s commitment to his program during the offseason stood out to new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles.
“I was really impressed with Edrees,” Knowles said during Thursday’s episode of The Juice. “He’s a great example of a guy who’s been here, who’s invested. Did not leave even though there was a transition and even though there were new safeties coming in. Edress stayed and completed and learned. And really, coming out of spring, established himself as the top safety.”
While there’s some carryover between schemes, Knowles still took note of how quickly Farooq was able to pick up the new ideas that he was laying out for the defense.
“I knew him a little bit through recruiting, but I was impressed with what he did on the field and how he picked things up,” Knowles said.
More From RTI: Former Vol Jayson Swain Discusses The ‘Balancing Act’ That Josh Heupel Is Going Through With the Chaz Coleman Saga
Safeties coach Anthony Poindexter, who is another Penn State coaching acquisition this season, says that Farooq had trust in the program that it would work to put the best coaches around him despite the unknowns of the coaching transition.
“In this day and age of college football, he didn’t have to stay,” Poindexter said on The Juice. “He trusted Coach Heup. That Coach Heup was going to bring somebody in that could further him in his career and further help him reach his goals, as far as here at Tennessee and beyond. He’s been awesome. Better than I could have ever expected.”
It’s a critical season for Farooq in 2026, but one that he’s preparing well for. Coming off of his first season as the full-time starter, Farooq will be relied upon to be a key piece of Tennessee’s new look defense. And while there’s new blood in the room that’s competing for time on the field, Farooq has been a leader on and off the grass as he pushes his group to reach the next level.
“I think spring went really well for me,” Farooq said on The Juice. “I think we are growing as a team overall. We have been building chemistry since January ’til now. I feel like things been going really well this spring and we’ve grown a lot.”
Check out the full episode of The Juice below:
