Defensive lineman Emmanuel Okoye will not play this season after suffering a knee injury during fall camp with the 15th-ranked Tennessee Volunteers.
Spokesman Bill Martin confirmed on Monday that Okoye will be out for the entire season with the Vols (1-0).
Tennessee moved Okoye from tight end to defensive line to make use of his 6-foot-5, 243-pound frame. He came to Knoxville in 2023 after participating in Osi Umenyiora’s “The Uprise” program in Nigeria the year before.
This program led to an invitation for Okoye to attend NFL Africa’s camp in Ghana, and he then went to the NFL Academy in Loughborough, England.
Okoye played against teams like IMG Academy, Scotland’s U19 squad, and Nottingham University, becoming the top recruit in England.
He was rated a four-star prospect by 247Sports and On3, and a three-star recruit by ESPN and Rivals. He was the second athlete from Nigeria to sign with Tennessee.
The Vols began the season with a 69-3 victory over Chattanooga and will face NC State on Saturday night in Charlotte.
