Jeremy Pruitt is working to assemble his staff after it was announced that he has agreed to a deal to become the next head coach of the Vols.

Pruitt comes to Knoxville after previous stops at Alabama and Georgia, and it appears he is bringing in a former co-worker for part of his staff at Tennessee.

According to SDS’ own Dan Harralson, Pruitt is hiring Will Friend to his staff as OL coach. Friend and Pruitt worked together at Georgia in 2014 when Pruitt was DC and Friend was the OL coach on Mark Richt’s staff.

Friend worked as the OL coach at Georgia from 2011-2014 before joining Mike Bobo at Colorado State as OC and OL coach. Bobo served as OC during Friend’s time at Georgia before taking the head coaching position at Colorado State.

There is still a ways to go before Pruitt’s staff is complete, but this is a good first step for the Vols new head coach.