The Tennessee Vols still need an offensive coordinator/tight ends coach after Alex Golesh left Knoxville earlier this month to take over as the head coach at USF.

Many folks — myself included — expect Josh Heupel to promote quarterbacks coach Joey Halzle to offensive coordinator.

If that's the move that Heupel makes, it'll mean he just needs to hire a tight ends coach.

So far, it doesn't appear there's been much movement on Heupel's search for a new assistant coach, which has left us to speculate on who the hire could eventually be.

Several names that make sense have been tossed out there. Former North Texas head coach Seth Littrell, a college teammate of Heupel's, has experience coaching tight ends and could be an option. Oklahoma tight ends coach Joe Jon Finley, a former Sooners player who also has experience with Heupel, could be an option as well (though Finley would probably require a co-offensive coordinator title — something Heupel has done before).

Another option that hasn't been mentioned yet is Los Angeles Rams offensive assistant Zak Kromer.

Kromer has spent the last six seasons as an assistant with the Rams. He's worked mostly with the offensive line in Los Angeles. though this season he's working with the tight ends.

It looks like Rams assistant coach Zak Kromer has taken on an expanded role with the tight ends, now that assistant HC Thomas Brown has also taken over coaching running backs with Ra'Shaad Samples' move to Arizona State earlier this month.

— Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) December 16, 2022

There's a connection to Heupel here — Kromer was a student assistant for four seasons at Oklahoma. For three of those seasons, he worked alongside Heupel.

Over the last few days, there have been rumors that Rams head coach Sean McVay could step down after this season to either "take a break" or work in television. Those rumors were present last year as well, but they seem more realistic after the way Los Angeles has struggled this season.

If McVay leaves the Rams, it will mean massive staff shakeups. And Kromer would potentially be looking for a new job.

Guys with NFL ties are usually good recruiters because they can sell their NFL experience. Kromer would bring some fresh ideas to Tennessee's staff while also bringing some continuity thanks to his previous connection to Heupel.

I'm not saying Kromer is going to be the hire, but he's a name worth keeping an eye on.

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