SEC program is reportedly trying to swipe an assistant from Tennessee that has an existing connection to new Vols DC Jim Knowles

A rival SEC program is reportedly trying to swipe a key defensive analyst from the Tennessee Vols.

Zach Ragan — Tennessee Volunteers News Writer
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Albert Cesare/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Tennessee Vols could be in danger of losing a defensive analyst with a connection to new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles.

According to CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz, the Arkansas Razorbacks are targeting Vols defensive analyst Marion Hobby for their vacant defensive line coach job.

Hobby, who played at Tennessee in the late 1980s under Johnny Majors, joined the Vols’ coaching staff this past June.

Marion Hobby has worked with Jim Knowles in the past

It’ll be interesting to see if Hobby quickly accepts the job at Arkansas, or if he waits to see how Knowles’ defensive staff shakes out at Tennessee.

Knowles, who was recently hired as Tennessee’s defensive coordinator, will reportedly have a say in what his staff looks like with the Vols.

For now, it’s unclear if Vols defensive line coach Rodney Garner will return in 2026. The veteran defensive line coach’s contract expires on Jan. 31, 2026.

It’s certainly possible that Garner will return, but if not, Hobby could be a candidate to take over as Tennessee’s defensive line coach.

Hobby, who has 10 seasons of experience as a defensive line coach in the NFL, previously worked with Knowles at Duke and Ole Miss.

Knowles and Hobby were both assistant coaches at Ole Miss in 2003 under David Cutcliffe.

When Cutcliffe left Tennessee to become the new head coach at Duke in 2008, he hired Hobby as his defensive coordinator/defensive line coach. Hobby served in that role for three seasons. Knowles joined Duke’s staff in 2010, working alongside Hobby for one season in Durham.

Arkansas recently hired Ryan Silverfield as the program’s new head coach.

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