Tennessee is betting on Jim Knowles to clean up a defense that had far too many leaks last season.
After firing Tim Banks, the Volunteers turned to Knowles as defensive coordinator in search of a reset. The numbers from 2025 make the assignment pretty clear: Tennessee gave up 28.8 points per game and 395.5 yards per game, both third-worst in the SEC, according to CBS Sports.
Knowles comes to Knoxville with a resume that stands on its own. He built strong defenses at Duke, elevated Oklahoma State into one of the Big 12’s best units, and then spent three seasons at Ohio State.
That run peaked with the Buckeyes’ 2024 national championship push, when Knowles’ defense finished No. 1 nationally in scoring defense at 12.9 points allowed and No. 1 in total defense at 254.6 yards allowed. He spent 2025 at Penn State before landing at Tennessee.
CBS Sports reported that Heupel called him "our top priority from the start of this process," and that kind of urgency makes sense given the state of the unit he’s inheriting.
What Knowles brings is not just a scheme, but a moving target. His base is listed as a 4-2-5, though that barely captures what he actually does.
The better description is a hybrid of 3-3-5 and 4-2-5 ideas, built around a "Leo" hybrid pass rusher who can play like a traditional end or slide into space. At Oklahoma State, he adjusted to the pass-heavy Big 12 by reshaping the front into an odd-stack, three-high safety look that became one of the more copied setups in college football.
The real constant has been flexibility. Knowles has said in multiple media outlets that he isn't married to any single front, and that willingness to adapt is what lets him tailor his defense to the opponent instead of asking every offense to deal with the same look every week. The pressure comes from disguise, rotating safeties, and aggressive man coverage on the perimeter.
That adaptability is exactly why Tennessee is hoping for a fast turnaround. Knowles has a history of changing a defense quickly in year one, and the Vols need that kind of jolt after losing their identity in 2025.
But there’s also a real concern on the edge. Knowles has been open about the pass rush being unproven entering the season, especially after the Chaz Coleman fiasco, which has pushed Tulane transfer Jordan Norman into a lead role with little proven depth behind him.
To help address that, Knowles has already trimmed weight off his defensive ends to get more speed off the edge. That kind of personnel tweak fits the way he works: scheme first, then shape the roster around it.
For Tennessee, the question is simple. Can Knowles get enough pressure without living on blitzes?
If he can squeeze more disruption out of the roster and build a more disciplined, attacking defense, the Volunteers could look a lot different on that side of the ball. The biggest swing factor remains the same one it always does in a Knowles defense: the pass rush.
In Other News...
Tennessee Showed Off A 2026 Threat Fans Have Been Waiting For
The final Tennessee football fall camp practice open to the media before the 2026 season offered another look at why the Vols have plenty of buzz heading into the year. In offense and defense sessions, quarterbacks Faizon Brandon and George MacIntyre both flashed on deep throws during wet-ball drills, while receivers Mike Matthews and Braylon Staley stood out by finishing plays through the conditions. It was the kind of practice snapshot that reminded observers how much talent is already stacking up across the roster.
There was also meaningful intrigue on the other side of the ball, where the defensive backs and other position groups drew attention as the competition continues to take shape. Freshman JJ Finch was especially notable as a potential factor on the defensive line, adding another name to a unit that could use more answers as camp winds down. For a team trying to sort out its next wave of contributors, these final open practices have been useful for showing which young players are starting to look like real options. [Read more 🡒]
Candace Parker's Hall Of Fame Moment Hit Tennessee Fans Right Away
Candace Parkers Hall of Fame weekend came with a very familiar orange-and-white touch for Tennessee fans, and it fit the moment. The former Lady Vol great was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame alongside Chamique Holdsclaw, adding another milestone to a career that already includes two national championships at Tennessee, three WNBA titles and two league MVP awards before her retirement after the 2023 season.
What made the ceremony land so quickly with Vols supporters was who stepped up to present her. NBA Hall of Famer Allen Iverson introduced Parker while wearing Tennessee apparel, a detail that connected one of the sports biggest stages right back to Knoxville. For a fan base that has long claimed Parker as one of its own, it was the kind of scene that made the induction feel personal from the start. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Faces A Growing Tight End Concern With Ethan Davis Still Out
Tennessees tight end room has become a little thinner in camp with Ethan Davis still sidelined after a minor lower-body injury from the opening fall practice. The injury was suffered on Aug. 6, and while the situation is not viewed as serious, the Vols have now gone through multiple workouts without him as they manage his return carefully.
Davis has missed nine straight practices, which matters because Tennessee does not have much proven depth behind him at the position. The cautious approach makes sense this time of year, but it also leaves the staff waiting for one of its more important pieces to get back on the field and stabilize a spot that could use the help. [Read more 🡒]