The Tennessee Vols could be in danger of losing another key assistant coach just before the start of spring practice
The Tennessee Vols are hoping to keep a key offensive assistant coach.
The Tennessee Vols could be in danger of losing a second assistant coach in the month of the February.
Last week, Vols cornerbacks coach Michael Hunter, who joined Tennessee’s coaching staff earlier this offseason, accepted a coaching job with the Los Angeles Rams.
The Volunteers worked quickly to replace Hunter, hiring former Virginia Tech Hokies cornerbacks coach Derek Jones.
Tennessee hasn’t made any big changes to its offensive coaching staff this offseason, but that could be changing depending on what happens with the Miami Hurricanes’ search for a new running backs coach.
Vols running backs coach De’Rail Sims mentioned for open job
Miami is in search of a new running backs coach after losing Matt Merritt to the Arizona Cardinals (Merritt, oddly enough, was an offensive analyst at Tennessee in 2021).
CaneSport reported over the weekend that Vols running backs coach De’Rail Sims is “in the mix” to replace Merritt in Coral Gables.
“Sources have told CaneSport that Sims is in the mix to replace departed coach Matt Merritt, who went to the Arizona Cardinals,” wrote CaneSport’s Gary Ferman.
“His roots in South Carolina and extensive coaching stops across the Southeast have allowed him to build a solid network,” added Ferman. “And Sims is also just in his early 40s and known for the energy he brings to his coaching.”
Sims joined Tennessee’s coaching ahead of the 2024 season after previous running backs coach Jerry Mack left Rocky Top to join the Jacksonville Jaguars’ coaching staff. Mack was hired as the head coach at Kennesaw State ahead of the 2025 season.
Losing Sims would be a tough blow for the Vols. For starters, he’s helped develop DeSean Bishop, a former walk-on, in a 1,000 yard rusher in the SEC.
Secondly, and maybe more importantly, losing Sims could potentially impact Tennessee’s pursuit of 2027 five-star running back David Gabriel Georges.
That’s not to say that losing Sims would knock Tennessee out of the battle for Gabriel Georges — that’s not the case at all — but it would mean that the five-star running back would have to build a new relationship with a new running backs coach.
Vols fans should certainly hope that Sims sticks around in Knoxville instead of leaving for South Florida.
Spring practice is set to begin for the Volunteers on March 16.
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