There are some rumblings that Tennessee Vols defensive coordinator Tim Banks could receive some interest as a head coaching candidate over the next couple of weeks. 

While nothing is imminent, it could be worth taking a look at some defensive coordinator options that could on the table if Josh Heupel needs to replace Banks. 

Here are five solid options that Heupel could consider if Banks leaves for another job this offseason. 

Update: 

Banks has reportedly interviewed for the head coaching job at Middle Tennessee State, so this last might come in handy in the not-so-distant future. 

On the Tim Banks report. I can report that he's interviewed twice in the past 48 hours for the opening at MTSU. He very much is interested in the job. It is believed that the $$$ would be for approximately $1.5 million per year #Vols #MTSU

— Tony Basilio (@TonyBasilio) December 1, 2023

Zach Arnett — Former Mississippi State head coach

Arnett will be an in-demand assistant coach after getting fired by Mississippi State last month. Arnett didn't work out as a head coach (though he was 5-6 in 11 games in a tough situation), but he has an excellent reputation as a defensive coordinator. He doesn't have any connections to Tennessee's current coaching staff and that's important because of the importance that Heupel places on continuity. Still, he's a name that Tennessee would need to consider. 

Derek Mason — Former Vanderbilt head coach

Mason is another coach that didn't work out as a head coach, but he has a great reputation as a defensive coordinator. Mason, who has served as a defensive coordinator at Oklahoma State, Auburn, and Stanford, took the 2023 season off from coaching. He could enter the 2024 season recharged and ready to go. And I'm sure the job at Tennessee would be appealing to the former Vanderbilt head coach. 

Chris Hampton — Oregon co-defensive coordinator/safeties 

Hampton doesn't have strong ties to Tennessee's current staff, but he has a reputation that's appealing. Hampton is from Memphis, he played college football at South Carolina, he spent a year on former Vols' offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe's staff at Duke, and he spent the 2023 season at Oregon learning under Dan Lanning. Hampton coaches safeties so he could also fill the position coach void left by Banks. 

Travaris Robinson — Alabama cornerbacks coach 

Robinson worked with Vols DL coach Rodney Garner at Auburn in 2015, so there's at least one connection with Tennessee's current staff. Robinson, who played at Auburn, was the defensive coordinator at South Carolina from 2016 to 2020. He was also Florida's defensive backs coach from 2011 to 2014 (Robinson is a Will Muschamp protege). 

Shawn Quinn — Virginia Tech star/nickels coach 

Quinn is a Chicago native who coached at Maryville High School in the late 90s. He was also a graduate assistant at Tennessee from 1999 to 2001. Quinn has worked at LSU in the past and he was the head coach/defensive coordinator at Savannah State before landing at Virginia Tech (he was 16-6 as a head coach). Quinn works under Brent Pry at Virginia Tech. Pry was a co-defensive coordinator at Penn State with Tim Banks so this hire could provide some continuity for Tennessee's defense. 

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