Levorn Harbin, better known to many around Knoxville as “Coach Chop,” is staying in the SEC - just trading orange for black and gold. After five years on Tennessee’s football staff, Harbin is heading to Missouri to take over as the Tigers’ new defensive line coach, the program officially announced Wednesday.
This move comes after a shakeup on the defensive side of Tennessee’s coaching staff that saw head coach Josh Heupel part ways with longtime defensive coordinator Tim Banks in December. With new DC Jim Knowles stepping in, the Vols brought in a fresh trio of assistants - Anthony Poindexter (co-defensive coordinator/secondary), Andrew Jackson (LEOs), and Michael Hunter Jr. (cornerbacks) - all of whom Knowles has worked with at previous stops like Penn State, Ohio State, and Oklahoma State.
While Knowles retained a couple of key pieces in defensive line coach Rodney Garner and linebackers coach William Inge, Harbin and veteran secondary coach Willie Martinez were not kept on board. That opened the door for Missouri to make its move.
Head coach Eli Drinkwitz didn’t waste any time bringing Harbin to Columbia as one of four new additions to his staff, alongside John Papuchis, Alex Atkins, and Garrett Riley. Drinkwitz praised the new hires, calling them “fantastic recruiters” with a “deep understanding of the game” and the ability to build strong relationships with players - a skill Harbin has long been known for.
Harbin’s recruiting chops are a big part of what made him such a valuable asset at Tennessee, even before he officially joined the on-field staff. He started with the Vols as a defensive analyst in 2021 and was promoted to senior defensive analyst for the next three seasons. When Mike Ekeler left for Nebraska in early 2025, Tennessee elevated Harbin to outside linebackers coach - a move that came with a two-year contract and a salary bump to $375,000 for 2026.
At the time of his promotion, Harbin had already built a reputation as one of the SEC’s top behind-the-scenes recruiters. Once he got the on-field title, he didn’t miss a beat. Working closely with Garner, Harbin helped develop young talents like James Pearce Jr. and Joshua Josephs, while also playing a key role in landing elite defensive prospects such as Jordan Ross.
That recruiting impact was reflected in the 247Sports recruiter rankings for the 2026 cycle, where Harbin came in at No. 7 in the SEC - sandwiched between Garner (No. 6) and Tennessee wide receivers coach Kelsey Pope (No. 8). Harbin served as the primary recruiter for several high-profile targets, including top-100 athlete Joel Wyatt, Top247 edge Zach Groves, former Auburn commit Hezekiah Harris, and three-star edge CJ Edwards.
Harbin’s coaching journey has taken him across the football landscape, with deep roots in the South. A North Alabama alum, he’s worked with Garner before - the two were together at Auburn, where Harbin served as director of recruiting from 2019 to 2020 and previously held analyst and administrative roles. His résumé also includes stints coaching defensive line and tackles at Louisiana, a run at Tuskegee University, a year with the Atlanta Falcons as a pro scouting assistant, and early-career stops at Georgia Southern and Valdosta State.
Now, Harbin brings that experience - and his recruiting firepower - to a Missouri program looking to keep building in the ultra-competitive SEC. And for Coach Chop, it’s another chapter in a career that’s been defined by hard work, player development, and a knack for connecting with talent.