Hugh Freeze could be making a return to the SEC. The former Ole Miss head coach is reportedly Tennessee’s top target to replace departing offensive coordinator Tyson Helton (leaving for the Western Kentucky head coaching job).

In October, Freeze accepted a position with Arizona Hotshots of the Alliance of American Football (the new spring league for players not on NFL rosters). Following the 2017 season, Freeze was linked to various openings on Power 5 staffs, but ultimately not hired. In September, he was publicly vocal about his desires to coach again.

The appeal of Freeze as the potential Vols play-caller is obvious. He developed Chad Kelly into a quarterback able to make an NFL roster. Freeze’s Rebels team beat Alabama twice (2014, ’15) and put up 43 points on the Crimson Tide in a loss (2016). But before UT fans get too excited, however, there could be a major hurdle to clear with Freeze in regards to the NCAA investigations which resulted in a multi-year bowl ban for Ole Miss.