The bad news continues to pile up for the Tennessee Volunteers with the college football season only weeks away. Tennessee delivered another devastating update as its September 5 matchup against Furman draws closer.
The Vols announced that starting safety Endrees Farooq suffered a season-ending torn patellar tendon during practice on Friday, August 14.
“Tennessee junior safety Endrees Farooq suffered a season-ending torn patellar tendon in his right knee at practice on Friday morning,” Tennessee detailed in an August 15 statement. “We stand with Endrees and support him as he begins the recovery process.
“We know he will continue to make a strong leadership impact on our team this fall.”
Farooq has appeared in 26 games across the past two college football seasons. In 13 appearances during the 2025 campaign, the safety recorded 76 tackles and two interceptions.
Tennessee Football Will Be Missing Multiple Starters Against Georgia Tech on September 12
Tennessee’s first significant challenge of the season comes on the road against Georgia Tech on September 12. The Vols are expected to be without multiple key starters when they travel to Atlanta.
“With S Edrees Farooq out for the season and LB Arion Carter suspended for two games, that means @Vol_Football will face Georgia Tech in its first road game in Week 2 without two of its best defenders,” On3’s Chris Low detailed in an August 15 message on X.
“Finding a finisher on the edge remains a key, although Xavier Gilliam has been dominant at inside.”
Tennessee News: The Vols Still Haven’t Named George MacIntyre or Faizon Brandon the Starting Quarterback
Meanwhile, Tennessee’s quarterback competition remains unresolved with the season rapidly approaching. Head coach Josh Heupel has yet to announce whether George MacIntyre or Faizon Brandon will open the season as the team’s starting quarterback.
“I think the fear is that if George is the starter, then you could lose Faizon,” Knoxville News Sentinel’s Adam Sparks noted on “The Tony Basilio Show,” per Yahoo Sports. “I think that’s really the fear. I don’t think anybody is against George. But we’re in the portal age, so it’s not like if George starts, then Faizon’s going to hang around for a year or two and develop, and then he’ll be the starter. That’s not what we’re in now — every offseason there is free agency.
“The assumption is that Faizon has the higher ceiling [and that] long-term, he’s the better quarterback. And so you don’t want to sacrifice, let’s say three seasons of [Faizon] because George ends up being a nose ahead of him for the early part of the season. I think that’s more of the fear.”
Tennessee’s Schedule Includes Texas, Alabama, Texas A&M and LSU
Tennessee faces a challenging SEC slate that includes games against Texas, Alabama, Texas A&M and LSU. Back in July, Heupel suggested that he was comfortable allowing the quarterback competition to continue until a clear answer emerged.
“We’ve had it happen a lot of different ways,” Heupel told ESPN at the time. “You’ve had a guy that you knew was going to be the guy.
“We’ve had a bunch of competitions. We’ll find out when we find out. Typically, there comes a point where you’re like, all right, this is the right guy.”