Another Tennessee football player has officially declared for the 2026 NFL Draft. Despite being out of eligibility following this past season, starting Vols safety Andre Turrentine made the announcement this past weekend.
“First and foremost, I want to thank God for guiding me every step of the way,” Turrentine wrote on his Instagram. “I am deeply thankful to the Tennessee coaches and staff for their unwavering support, mentorship, and belief in my abilities.
“To my parents and everyone who has helped me along this journey, your encouragement and sacrifices have meant the world to me. I’m excited for what lies ahead and ready to give my all at the next level.
“Thank you all for being part of this dream. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity to declare for the NFL Draft.”
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This past season, Turrentine started at safety alongside Edrees Farooq. Over the course of the season, he posted 66 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and an interception over 13 games.
This was his fourth season with the Vols. He joined in 2022 and was a reserve defensive back and special teams contributor. In 2023, he started in three games and grew into a bigger role. In 2024, he was the full-time starter alongside Will Brooks for one of the better defenses in the country.
Turrentine started his career at Ohio State. As a true freshman with the Buckeyes in 2021, he played in just four games and earned a redshirt.
Turrentine’s transfer to Tennessee was a return to his home state. He is from Nashville, where he starred for Ensworth. He was a consensus four-star recruit, and 247 Composite considered him the No. 4 player from the state and No. 9 safety in the class.
