Josh Heupel evaluates early progress of defense under new DC Jim Knowles
By Ethan Stone
Published:
Josh Heupel and the Tennessee Volunteers made a change at defensive coordinator this offseason.
After some good years yet a disappointing 2025 season, the Vols made the decision to let go of former DC Tim Banks. It was the right decision, too. Tennessee’s defense ranked 14th in the SEC in total yards allowed per game (397). Every SEC opponent not named Florida scored at least 30 points on the Vols.
To fill the void, Heupel brought in former Ohio State and Penn State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, who is known for having a complex system that takes time for college players to develop into. Easing the transition, Tennessee added a horde of Penn State transfers, including DT Xavier Gilliam, safety DeJaun Lane and LB Amare Campbell. Chaz Coleman was also included in that group, but he was medically disqualified from the team earlier this offseason.
On Monday, while speaking at SEC Media Days, Heupel had the following to say about Knowles transition to Knoxville and the early progress of the defense.
“Yeah, you look back, he’s made some jumps in year one. Maybe not to where he ended, where he’s number one, number two, number three in the defense, third down defense, whatever it might be,” Heupel said. “He’s taken some positive jumps…. We have good personnel and brought good personnel in. I think that we brought in coaches at every level of the defense that have a true understanding of what he’s doing defensively, get it to the players clear and concisely right as we jumped off. I think that’s why we started spring ball in a good way and why we finished it in a really positive manner and continued growth here throughout the course of the summer.”
“I think all of those things lend itself to us transitioning extremely quickly,” Heupel continued. “If you talk to our players, they feel like the teaching patterns of what they’re doing, they’ve been able to grasp onto extremely quickly.”
Every schedule in the SEC is tougher this season, but the Vols are set to face some tough offenses and quarterbacks in Year 1 of Knowles stint as DC. Arch Manning and Texas, Sam Leavitt and LSU and Kalen DeBoer’s surefire passing attack at Alabama all come to mind.
There’s certainly talent on that side of the ball for the Vols. Let’s see what Knowles can do in Year 1.
Ethan Stone is a Tennessee graduate and loves all things college football and college basketball. Firm believer in fouling while up 3.
