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Tennessee will be without one of the more intriguing athletes on the roster in 2020. Deangelo Gibbs has opted out of the 2020 season, per head coach Jeremy Pruitt today. Pruitt told the media that Gibbs was opting out in order to focus on academics.
JUST IN: @CoachJPruitt announces that Deangleo Gibbs has opted out of the season. He is still with the team, but will focus on academics and sit out 2020.
— Austin Price (@AustinPriceless) August 28, 2020
Gibbs transferred from Georgia to Tennessee last year. Due to NCAA rules, Gibbs was forced to sit out the 2019 season. The former four-star, top 50 overall athlete played safety during his time at Georgia, but was listed as a receiver on Tennessee’s 2020 roster. He was expected to contribute in that role after practicing with the scout team last season at the position.
This development shifts a little more pressure towards veterans Brandon Johnson, Velus Jones Jr. and Josh Palmer. Ramel Keyton and Cedric Tillman will also be in the mix, along with several blue-chip freshman — Jimmy Calloway, Jalin Hyatt, Dee Beckwith and Malachi Wideman. That big group will try to fill two big roles that were vacated by Marquez Callaway and Jauan Jennings last year.
Gibbs is a redshirt junior and should have two more years of eligibility remaining entering 2021.