Former Ohio State Buckeyes defensive coordinator Jim Knowles isn't being trusted to shore up the Tennessee Volunteers' defense, which should be the sure side of the ball for the Vols on Rocky Top this fall.
CBS Sports' Brandon Marcello believes the team's burning question is what choice Josh Heupel and Co. make at the quarterback position with Joey Aguilar not receiving another year of eligibility. Marcello then claimed that Knowles makes the defense an even bigger question.
As Marcello pointed out, his troubled one-and-done campaign with the Penn State Nittany Lions proves that Knowles isn't someone who can come and implement his system easily.
"Joey Aguilar lost his court case seeking another year at Tennessee, so the Vols are starting over (again) at quarterback, pitting freshmen George MacIntyre and Faizon Brandon in a battle this spring. The uncertainty is troubling, but it's not as large as the looming questions on defense. Former Penn State and Ohio State coordinator Jim Knowles is now leading the defense after some disappointing trends emerged in the secondary last season. Whether Knowles' arrival translates into immediate improvement is unclear, as it usually takes a year or two -- as evidenced by Penn State's production last season and the previous rebuild at Ohio State -- for Knowles' system to seep into the culture," Marcello wrote.
Jim Knowles may go down with the ship twice since leaving Ohio State
Tennessee has an unenviable task ahead of it in 2026. Most of the pieces from the 2024 CFP team are gone. Aguilar's arm carried the team to eight wins in 2025 and is gone. Heupel will likely have to answer for the talent disparity this season.
If Knowles' defense is an issue again, for another team, Heupel might have one more defensive coordinator hire left before UT comes for his seat. Knowles would presumably have to find work on the lower rungs of the SEC or Big Ten at that point. There are programs in the "Power 2" that can give him the time he needs to implement a winning system.
Going down with the ship again after the James Franklin crashout in State College, Pennsylvania, last year would not be a good look, though. That would cost Knowles a pretty penny on his next contract.
We'll see how it plays out in Knoxville. On paper, and from a national lens, it's not looking good right now.