Tennessee football coach Josh Heupel held a news conference Thursday afternoon, his first since making the biggest staff change in his five years of guiding the Volunteers.
On Dec. 8, Heupel announced the firing of Tim Banks as his defensive coordinator. Three days later, he revealed the hiring of Jim Knowles, the architect of Ohio State’s defense last season during the national championship run by the Buckeyes.
Penn State swiped Knowles away from Columbus after last season for an eye-popping salary of $3.1 million.
“You look at his track record of success and how his defenses play at a championship level,” Heupel said. “He’s been able to do that at multiple spots, and he’s done it in a way that fits the personnel there and that you can recruit to. We were looking for someone who has the ability to fit the personnel we have, and I’m saying that because we’ve got really good personnel guys who are coming back.
“We wanted someone who could take advantage of their traits to where we’re not starting over from ground zero. We were looking for someone who could control and command all three levels and have the ability to build championship-level defenses. It’s a combination of those pieces and looking for the right fit, and that’s why we’re excited about Jim.”
The Vols will play their final game of the 2025 season on Dec. 30 in the Music City Bowl against Illinois (5:30 p.m. Eastern on ESPN), which is a matchup pitting 8-4 teams. Tennessee’s defense will be under the guidance of linebackers coach William Inge at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium.
Knowles, who is scheduled to make $2 million with the Vols next season, has been a spectator this week during workouts.
“He got here on Monday, and you’re starting the onboarding process with campus and that type of thing,” Heupel said. “He had the opportunity to get introduced in front of the team, and he’s been able to watch practice and see what a typical week looks like from a practice standpoint. He’s had the ability to watch and get to know our current roster here and get to know our staff.
“He continues to grow in his understanding of who we have here, and ultimately a big part of this is the projection of the portal and the things that we need to give our defense the opportunity to be elite.”
Knowles has not held any individual meetings with players, according to Heupel, but has attended position meetings. Knowles also has been in communication with members of Tennessee’s signing class that was assembled earlier this month and was ranked No. 7 nationally by 247Sports.com.
This is a turbulent time for college football coaches, who may have put their signing classes to bed but are now trying to formulate their 2026 rosters not knowing who will declare early for the NFL draft or leave through the NCAA transfer portal, which doesn’t officially open until Jan. 2. Redshirt junior receiver Chris Brazzell II and junior linebacker Arion Carter have already revealed their plans to bypass remaining eligibility with the Vols and make themselves available for the draft, while backup quarterback Jake Merklinger has decided to enter the portal.
Several coaches across the country have expressed their concerns in recent days, with Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz earlier this week describing the sport as “really sick” due to the tampering that is going on and how schools are not being punished.
“It’s really hard,” Heupel said. “December used to be one of the best months in college football, and I wouldn’t call it that in this current state. You’re navigating a lot of different pieces all at one time, but it’s still the greatest game that there is. It’s great to be around young people and be a part of their growth and their journey in life, and not just inside of football.
“It’s different than it used to be, and you’ve got to navigate it. I’m not going to sit here and complain about it. It is what it is.”
When asked about the looming January portal window and how it compares to previous December windows, Heupel said, “I think in general that it’s been a real positive inside the landscape of what everybody is trying to deal with and navigate.”
Heupel said the Vols are “pretty set” as far as a Music City Bowl roster but that a couple of players are still making decisions on their futures. Merklinger’s departure will leave the Vols with only two scholarship quarterbacks in Nashville: graduate transfer starter Joey Aguilar and freshman backup George MacIntyre.
“Jake made a choice that he felt like was right for him, and we support him,” Heupel said. “Jake has been a great teammate while he’s been here. He’s grown and competed, and obviously George will be the No. 2 here going into the bowl.”
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com.