Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel hired Jim Knowles to replace Tim Banks as the program’s defensive coordinator this offseason because he knew UT’s defense needed to take a big step forward for the Vols to compete for a national championship.

Knowles, who served as Penn State’s defensive coordinator last season, was the defensive coordinator at Ohio State in 2024 when the Buckeyes shut down Heupel’s offense in the first round of the College Football Playoff.

“Hiring Jim Knowles was our top priority from the start of this process,” said Heupel last December after the hire was officially announced. “Jim has a proven track record of developing elite defenses that play with an edge, and we got to see that first-hand during the 2024 College Football Playoff. His defenses are always physical, well prepared and can adapt quickly in-game against today’s complex offenses. He’s a competitor, a winner and someone who will get the most out of our players in practice and on game day. We are thrilled to welcome Jim to Rocky Top as he helps us chase championships.”

Knowles brought several players and coaches along with him from Penn State, so the expectation is that he’ll quickly make a big impact on Tennessee’s defense (despite the reputation his defense has for taking a while to pick up).

Jim Knowles isn’t just providing Tennessee with a defensive advantage

Knowles isn’t just helping Tennessee’s defense improve ahead of the 2026 season, he’s also helping the offense improve.

The Vols’ offense has seen a lot of different (and confusing) looks this offseason while practicing against Knowles’ defense.

“I think the defensive staff really pushed the offensive staff in spring,” said VolQuest’s Austin Price on 104.5 The Zone’s Ramon and Will on Tuesday. “They threw a ton of stuff at them — like a ton of stuff. And in talking to some of the quarterbacks and talking to the offensive staff, they feel like when they get to the real games, it’s actually going to get easier — because they had so many things being thrown at them in the spring that they didn’t know were coming. That really helps prepare you for the unexpected. And so I expect more of that in fall camp.”

I think this is really exciting for Vols fans to hear.

One of the biggest reasons why Tennessee’s offense was so explosive in 2022 was because of quarterback Hendon Hooker’s ability to improvise when things got off-schedule. The big passing plays were the star of the show, but Hooker kept a lot of drives alive with his legs.

It sounds like Tennessee’s young quarterbacks — George MacIntyre and Faizon Brandon — have been forced into plenty of off-schedule situations this offseason, so they should be significantly more comfortable in those situations when the real games start later this fall.

Tennessee needs its quarterbacks to be able to improvise and make plays when things go awry for the Vols to reach their full potential in 2026. And Knowles, whether it’s his goal or not, is helping make sure that happens.