Former Ohio State Buckeyes defensive coordinator Jim Knowles has at least one fan of his Tennessee Volunteers hiring in CBS Sports' Austin Nivison, who believes Knowles is bringing value from his one year with the Penn State Nittany Lions via the assistants he brought over from State College, PA.
Per Nivison, "Less than one year after Banks was named as a Broyles Award finalist, he was fired due to a major regression from the Vols' defense in 2025. On the defensive line, Dominic Bailey, Tyre West, Joshua Josephs, and Caleb Herring are all gone. They combined for 27 tackles for loss and 17.5 sacks last year. In the secondary, star cornerback Colton Hood may be a first-round NFL Draft pick, and the mercurial but skilled Boo Carter is now at Colorado."
"Tennessee did about as well as could be expected at replacing Banks and plugging those personnel holes. Knowles is one of the most well-respected defensive coordinators in college football, and he helped Ohio State win a national championship in 2024. Coming down from Penn State, Knowles brought several assistants, as well as players who could make an immediate impact," Nivison added.
Tim Banks made Jim Knowles' job on Rocky Top easier
Tim Banks, the man Knowles replaced in Knoxville, didn't exactly light the world on fire during his Rocky Top tenure. Banks' unit ranked No. 114 in the country in scoring defense, allowing 31.1 points per game in 2025. The Vols also ranked No. 115 in passing defense, ceding 248.6 yards per game.
Tennessee was strong in 2024, when the Vols made the College Football Playoff field, but such a sharp decline led to Banks' ouster this past offseason. Banks is now a position coach with the Auburn Tigers.
Luckily, Big Orange isn't expecting Knowles to get it right from the jump, allowing him some time to get his complex defensive system installed. Coming over with a championship pedigree also buys Knowles some grace just southeast of The Great Smoky Mountains this fall.
2025 was a major setback year for Knowles with Penn State, but he may have a new lease on life in Tennessee.