Although the outbreak of the coronavirus had halted spring football this time last year, Tim Banks still had the comfort of being in his fifth year on the staff at Penn State, which had played in the Rose, Fiesta, Citrus and Cotton bowls the four previous seasons.
The pads are popping this spring, but Banks is removed from his time as co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach of the Nittany Lions and is now in his first few weeks as Tennessee’s defensive coordinator under new head coach Josh Heupel. The Volunteers held their third spring practice of the Heupel era Tuesday afternoon.
“I think it’s been great,” Banks said Tuesday night on a Zoom call. “There is obviously a learning curve for the whole staff as far as getting to know our players and getting to know each other, but we live for challenges. It’s kind of what gets you going a little bit.
“Obviously it was a great run at my former place, and I made some lifelong friends, but I’m super excited to be here.”
The biggest challenge for Banks out of the gate is at linebacker, with Henry To’o To’o and Quavaris Crouch having entered the NCAA transfer portal more than two months ago and having yet to announce their 2021 intentions. Jeremy Banks is not able to compete in full-contact practices right now, and Tyler Baron is actually getting a look up front.