Earlier this month, multiple reports indicated that the Clemson Tigers were prepared to "make a run" at Tennessee Vols defensive coordinator Tim Banks. 

Clemson moved on from defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin after the 2024 season. 

Banks' contract at Tennessee expires at the end of January and he's reportedly yet to sign a new deal with the Volunteers. 

On Monday, news broke that Clemson is hiring Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Allen to replace Goodwin. 

With Allen leaving Penn State to join Dabo Swinney's staff, it removes Clemson as a potential destination for Banks. 

Penn State’s Tom Allen has agreed to become the new defensive coordinator at Clemson, a source tells @CBSSports/@247Sports.

Clemson and Allen, who ESPN previously said Clemson was working toward getting a deal done with, are expected to get a deal done in the next day or so.… pic.twitter.com/rTeayuYmZk

— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) January 13, 2025

That's good news for the Vols. Banks has done a great job with Tennessee's defense in recent years as the Vols have steadily improved on that side of the ball over the last four seasons (UT finished with the No. 7 scoring defense in the nation in 2024). He's undoubtedly a coach that Tennessee wants to keep for the 2025 season. 

Allen's departure from Penn State, however, could open up a new scenario for Banks and the Vols that could be worrisome. 

Banks, who is from Michigan, served as Penn State's co-defensive coordinator from 2016 to 2020. Brent Pry, who is currently the head coach at Virginia Tech, was the primary defensive play-caller during that time frame. 

When Banks left Penn State for Tennessee, he took a big gamble due to the state of UT football, which at the time was embroiled in a recruiting scandal that was left behind by previous head coach Jeremy Pruitt. 

One of the reasons that Banks took the Tennessee job is because he would be the primary defensive play-caller for an offensive minded head coach. In other words, Banks basically left Penn State to become the head coach of the Vols' defense. 

Now that the Penn State defensive coordinator job is going to be open, it's not unreasonable to think that Banks could be a coach that the Nittany Lions are interested in. 

I don't know if Banks would leave Tennessee to go back to Penn State, but it's certainly a scenario that could be in play (at least until Banks signs a new deal). 

You never say never when it comes to the college coaching carousel. This sport is as unpredictable as ever these days. We'll likely see if Banks and Penn State develops into anything in the coming days. 

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