Where Tennessee turns at safety next following injury to Edrees Farooq

Tennessee defensive back Dejuan Lane (23) during the Vols' spring football practice in Knoxville on March 19, 2026. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co You see it almost every season and this year has been no different. Tennessee has suffered a couple of season-ending injuries to depth players to open fall camp, losing linebacker Jaedon Harmon and cornerback Jadais Richard. On Friday morning, it was a key defensive starter going down. Edrees Farooq, one of Tennessee’s starting safeties, was carried off the practice field by ambulance after suffering a leg injury in the Friday morning session. Farooq started all 13 games last season and has already impressed new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles this offseason. We obviously hope for the best here, but considering the tone from those in attendance, it would be a surprise if Farooq was able to return anytime soon. So who’s up next for the Volunteers? The good news here is that Knowles added several bodies to the safety room during the offseason. Michigan transfer TJ Metcalf figured to take one of the starting spots, and now the other starting spot would appear to be headed to Penn State transfer Dejuan Lane. The 6-2, 215 pound junior appeared in 13 games last season for Knowles at Penn State, making three starts. Obviously familiar with the system, Lane figures to be the next man up. Appalachian State transfer and local product DJ Burks will get bumped up the depth chart and certainly could factor into some three-safety looks for Knowles. The Maryville native has ten starts over the past two seasons. Sophomore Dylan Lewis generated some buzz back in the spring and should also be in that rotation now. Tennessee also has Sydney Walton, along with true freshmen Jowell Combay and KJ McClain to round out the depth. Highly-touted freshman Joel Wyatt has been working at cornerback, but was originally recruited as a safety. We could see him kick back to the position considering this news, we’ll see. Tennessee has a scrimmage set for tomorrow, and they’ll now face a new challenge defensively.