Tennessee’s revamped defensive staff under Jim Knowles is already undergoing a shakeup - and spring camp hasn’t even kicked off yet. Michael Hunter Jr., who was brought on just over a month ago to coach cornerbacks, is heading to the NFL. He’s set to join the Los Angeles Rams as their new secondary coach.
That move reunites Hunter with some familiar faces. Jaylen McCollough, a former Tennessee safety, is currently on the Rams’ roster, and while Byron Young - another Vols product - plays outside linebacker, the Tennessee connection runs deep in L.A.’s defensive room.
Hunter’s departure is a quick pivot from what was a promising addition to Knowles’ first defensive staff in Knoxville. He was hired in early January, tasked with overseeing the cornerbacks alongside co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Anthony Poindexter. Now, with spring practices looming, Tennessee is back in the market for a corners coach.
When he was brought aboard, Hunter expressed his excitement about joining the Vols, saying, “I couldn’t be more excited about being here at Tennessee… I take great pride in building relationships with our players and helping them become the best they can be on and off the field.”
Hunter came to Tennessee after two seasons at Ohio State, where he served as an assistant defensive backs coach. In 2024, he was part of the Buckeyes’ national championship-winning staff, working under Knowles. Before that, his coaching journey included stops at Oklahoma State as a graduate assistant and Tulsa as a corners coach - all part of a steady climb through the coaching ranks.
But Hunter’s football journey started long before the whistle and clipboard. From 2016 to 2019, he bounced around NFL rosters, spending time with the Giants, Jets, Broncos, Bills, Texans, and Chiefs. He played his college ball at both Indiana and Oklahoma State, giving him a unique perspective on the game from both the Power Five and pro levels.
Now, Tennessee has a gap to fill - and fast. The rest of Knowles’ defensive staff includes Poindexter, linebackers coach William Inge, LEOs coach Andrew Jackson, and veteran defensive line coach Rodney Garner. After the departure of former defensive coordinator Tim Banks, Knowles opted not to retain secondary coach Willie Martinez or outside linebackers coach Levorn "Chop" Harbin.
The Vols are in the midst of a defensive overhaul, and while Hunter’s exit is a curveball, it’s also a reminder of how quickly things can shift in the coaching carousel - especially when NFL opportunities come calling. Tennessee’s next hire will be crucial, not just for continuity, but for building the kind of secondary Knowles envisions in his first year leading the defense.