Just In: Heupel, Vols Reportedly Make Defensive Coordinator Hire

Breaking: Heupel, Vols Make Defensive Coordinator Hire

Josh Heupel came to Tennessee knowing how important his Defensive Coordinator hire would be. In fact, he told 99.1 The Animal on Sunday, "You talked about the defensive coordinator spot, that’ll absolutely be critical because of all of my involvement on the offensive side of the ball, but each staff member’s got to bring a championship pedigree and a competitive spirit to what they do every day."

Heupel has now tabbed Tim Banks as his new Defensive Coordinator, VR2 on SI has learned. Banks has served as the co-defensive coordinator at Penn State for the last few seasons

Tennessee vetted multiple candidates throughout the process, but came back to Banks in the end. The news was first reported by Yahoo Sports Pete Thamel.

According to his bio, Banks has been highly productive over the last few years.

• Tim Banks is in his fifth season with the Nittany Lions as the co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach after spending four seasons at Illinois.
• Banks helped run a defense that ranked fifth nationally against the run (95.0) and eighth in scoring (16.0) in 2019. The Nittany Lions additionally led the nation in forced fumbles (22) and were tied for third in fewest touchdown passes allowed (10).
• Penn State gave up just 16.0 points per game (8th), the fewest for PSU since the 2009 squad allowed 12.2 tallies per contest.
• Safeties Lamont Wade and Garrett Taylor were honorable mention All-Big Ten honorees during the 2019 campaign.
• In 2018, the secondary limited opponents through the air, finishing eighth nationally in team passing efficiency (106.10) and 15th in passing yards allowed (181.5).
• Safeties Nick Scott and Taylor collected honorable-mention berths on the 2018 All-Big Ten team.
• Penn State had 13 interceptions in 2018, the most since collecting 16 picks in the 2014 season.
• The Nittany Lions held three opponents to 60 or less yards through the air (Pittsburgh, 55; Wisconsin, 60; Rutgers, 46) in 2018. It was the first time since 1976 that PSU has held three teams to 60 or less passing yards in 1976 (Ohio State, Iowa, Kentucky) in a single season.
• In 2017, both starting safeties, Marcus Allen (first team) and Troy Apke (honorable mention), earned All-Big Ten accolades and were invited to the NFL Combine.
• Banks assisted in guiding a defensive unit that helped the Nittany Lions to a second-straight New Year’s Six bowl game for the first time since 1985 (Orange) and 1986 (Fiesta).
• The Nittany Lions defense finished in the top 25 in FBS in scoring defense (7th; 16.5), sacks (7th; 3.23), rushing defense (14th; 118.0), total defense (17th; 329.5), team passing efficiency defense (21st; 114.88), turnovers gained (23rd; 25) and tackles for loss (25th; 7.2).
• In his first season at Penn State, Banks helped the Nittany Lions to the Big Ten Championship by guiding a unit that finished 37th in FBS total defense (367.9), seventh in tackles for loss (8.1) and 19th in sacks (2.86).

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