Tennessee was the only Southeastern Conference football program to have every full-time assistant coach returning from the 2021 season.
Until Monday.
Receivers coach Kodi Burns, who oversaw the development of Velus Jones Jr. and JaVonta Payton and the gargantuan development of Cedric Tillman, left Josh Heupel’s Volunteers after one year to become receivers coach for the NFL’s New Orleans Saints under new coach Dennis Allen. It will be the first professional stint for Burns, who signed with Auburn as a quarterback in 2007 and was a receiver on Auburn’s 2010 national championship team.
“We established a strong foundation, set school offensive records and built relationships that will last a lifetime,” Burns said through a social media post. “As I embark on a dream of coaching in the NFL, I can’t wait to see the continued growth of the program under Coach Heupel. Tennessee football is in great hands, and the program’s best days are ahead.”
Burns served as receivers coach at his alma mater from 2016-20, with Auburn’s 2017 team winning the SEC’s Western Division and amassing more than 3,000 yards both rushing and passing. He was not retained at Auburn after Gus Malzahn was fired following the 2020 season, so he joined Josh Heupel’s staff at the University of Central Florida.
When Heupel left UCF for the Tennessee opening in January last year, he hired Burns several days later.
Tennessee averaged a nation-leading 2.99 plays per minute last year and set eight single-season program records, including points (511), offensive yards (6,174), first downs (316) and touchdowns (67). The Vols jumped a staggering 101 spots nationally in scoring offense as a result, going from 108th in 2020 with a 21.5-point average to seventh last season with a 39.3-point clip.
Tillman was a huge part of that success, collecting 64 receptions for 1,081 yards and 12 touchdowns. The 6-foot-3, 215-pounder entered his redshirt junior season with just eight career catches for 124 yards.
Heupel now will look to fill the vacancy before spring practice, which is expected to start in roughly a month.
Luke leaves Georgia
Matt Luke, the former Ole Miss head coach who spent the past two seasons overseeing Georgia’s offensive line, announced Monday that he is stepping away from football to spend more time with his family.
“He has been an invaluable part of our staff and played a great role in helping us win a national championship,” Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart said through a statement. “We are so appreciative of everything he has done for Georgia football. We’re working on finding a coach that will continue to develop our young men and build our strong foundation with the offensive line.”
The Bulldogs set offensive records this past season for points (579), total yards (6,637), first downs (341), touchdowns (73) and touchdown passes (39).
“I appreciate Coach Smart’s support in my decision today,” Luke said. “He’s a great coach, and I’ll always cherish his friendship. It has been an honor of a lifetime to be able to win a national championship with this staff and these players, and it’s something I will never forget.”
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.