Tennessee football didn’t wait for the offseason to shake things up on the defensive side of the ball. Just ahead of their Music City Bowl appearance, the Vols made a bold move: parting ways with defensive coordinator Tim Banks and bringing in veteran coach Jim Knowles to take over the reins.
Knowles is no stranger to high-level defensive football. He spent the 2025 season calling plays for Penn State’s defense and, before that, crafted one of the most dominant units in the country during his three-year run at Ohio State - including the Buckeyes’ title-winning campaign in 2024. Now, he’s tasked with bringing that same edge to Knoxville.
For now, linebackers coach William Inge will serve as the interim DC for the bowl game, while Knowles takes a step back to evaluate the current roster and staff. But he’s already making moves behind the scenes. According to reports, one of his first decisions is expected to be retaining veteran defensive line coach Rodney Garner - a respected figure in the program and a stronghold for player development in the trenches.
That’s a smart play. Garner’s known for getting the most out of his front-line talent, and keeping continuity in the defensive line room could help smooth the transition as Knowles installs his system.
Of course, Knowles’ evaluation won’t stop at the staff. With the transfer portal heating up, he’ll also be eyeing potential additions - and it’s only natural that a few familiar names from Penn State might be on his radar.
Four former Nittany Lions defenders have reportedly signaled their intent to enter the portal: cornerbacks Elliot Washington II and A.J. Harris, along with EDGE rushers Chaz Coleman and Zuriah Fisher.
Coleman, in particular, is a name that jumps off the page. As a true freshman, he posted a 78.5 season grade from Pro Football Focus - impressive stuff, especially in a Big Ten loaded with offensive line talent.
Even after missing time in November with an injury, he delivered a standout performance against Ohio State, earning a 90.6 game grade. That’s not just good for a freshman - that’s elite, period.
Teams will be lining up for a shot at him.
Washington, a former four-star recruit from the 2023 class, has been a steady contributor in the secondary. He finished the 2025 season with 18 tackles, three pass breakups, and a pick. Over three years in Happy Valley, he’s totaled 53 tackles, nine breakups, and two interceptions - solid production from a player who’s still developing.
Then there’s Harris, another former four-star who started his college career at Georgia before transferring to Penn State. He’s played in 34 games over three seasons and brings a physical presence at corner.
In 2025, he recorded 33 tackles, a tackle for loss, and a fumble recovery. His full career stat line includes 89 tackles, five TFLs, six pass breakups, and a pick.
He’s the kind of experienced, versatile corner that could help shore up any secondary.
Fisher rounds out the group. A 6-foot-3 EDGE rusher with 35 games under his belt across five seasons, he’s been a reliable rotational piece for Penn State.
In 2025, he started 11 games and tallied 19 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and a forced fumble. Across his career, he’s totaled 41 tackles, seven TFLs, a forced fumble, and a recovery.
He’s got one year of eligibility left, pending a medical redshirt waiver from the NCAA.
Now, whether Tennessee actually targets any of these players remains to be seen. But the connections are there - and with Knowles stepping into a new role, he’ll want players who already understand his system and expectations. That familiarity could be a valuable asset as he reshapes the Vols’ defense.
The real action begins when the portal officially opens on January 2. That’s when we’ll start to see how Tennessee plans to spend its NIL dollars and fill key roster gaps. With Knowles now in the fold, the Vols are signaling that they’re serious about building a defense that can match the firepower of their offense.
Head coach Josh Heupel put it best when describing what Knowles brings to the table: “You look at his track record of success, building defenses that play at a championship level, being able to do it multiple spots, do it in a way that fits the personnel that’s there and that you can recruit to. Subtly being different at the different places that he’s been. And the ability to tie all three levels of it together and play really good defense.”
That’s the blueprint. Now it’s time to see how Knowles brings it to life in Knoxville.