Josh Heupel had a tremendous challenge in 2025. The Vols lost their best cornerback in Jermod McCoy last January to an ACL tear. Then in week one, Rickey Gibson III got injured and was out for the year. Heupel had to turn to a true freshman to save the day, and he did.
Blue-chip transfer portal linebacker is planning visits to Tennessee and SEC competition
Ty Redmond was a 3-star from Alpharetta, Georgia, in the Vols 2025 recruiting class. The young cornerback proved everyone wrong in 2025 when he replaced Gibson. Redmond had 25 tackles, 11 pass breakups, and three interceptions as a true freshman in the SEC. These are some astonishing numbers for a first-year player in the best conference in America.
Many Vols fans were worried that Redmond would bolt for the transfer portal and chase after a hefty bag, but he has hinted that it won't be the case, according to a recent post on social media.
— Tyler(Ty)Redmond (@Tyler_Redmond23) January 2, 2026
Ty Redmond will anchor the Vols defense in 2026
This is a significant boost to Josh Heupel and defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. Redmond is a ball-hawking corner who plays with poise and excellent technique. Plus, Redmond can tackle in the run game, a rare combo for a cornerback.
Since Tennessee is losing McCoy, Gibson, and Colton Hood, having some stability in the secondary with Redmond is a huge win for the Vols. He gives Josh Heupel a proven piece to build around, and you can bet the staff will be aggressive in the portal to find another elite corner to line up opposite him.
Redmond has day one NFL Draft potential, so keeping talent like that around is key for Heupel. We haven't heard any potential wavering from some of the other talented freshmen like Braylon Staley and David Sanders Jr., so that is a great sign. They still could enter the Transfer Portal, but as of right now, they look to be staying in Knoxville.
When the dust settles, Vols fans will see this as a significant win. Redmond was already an SEC All-Freshman team member in 2025 and will look to add more accolades next fall for the Vols.