Tennessee’s coaching staff set to take a big blow, with a newcomer expected to head to the NFL
The Vols appear set to lose an important addition to their 2026 staff.
The Tennessee Vols landed an important part of their coaching staff when they hired new cornerbacks coach Michael Hunter, Jr. away from Ohio State last month.
It appears Hunter’s time in Knoxville will be very short lived.
Per CBS Sports college football insider Matt Zenitz, the Los Angeles Rams are expected to hire Hunter away from the Volunteers as their new defensive backs coach.
Tennessee CB coach Michael Hunter, Jr. expected to be hired as new Los Angeles Rams DB coach
Hunter was hired away from Ohio State back on January 2 to join new Tennessee defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, who worked together in Columbus. Before Ohio State, he served as the defensive pass game coordinator and CB coach in 2023 for Tulsa. From 2021-22, he was as a defensive assistant at Oklahoma State, where he coached in the secondary.
It’s a particularly tough loss because Hunter worked for Knowles for multiple seasons and knows his defense well. The duo coached together in 2024, and as the Vols found out in the College Football Playoff, the Buckeyes had a fearsome defense, particularly in the playoff. Before then, they worked together in 2021 in Stillwater with the Cowboys.
Hunter will at least have the opportunity in Los Angeles to coach a former Vol, as Jaylen McCollough is a safety on the Rams’ defense. However, it’s unfortunate that he won’t be working with a rebuilt secondary that has seen an influx of promising talent come in through the transfer portal, including TJ Metcalf (Michigan), Qua Moss (Kansas State), and Dejuan Lane (Penn State), among others.
