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Tennessee football: Top five candidates to replace Vols RB coach David Johnson

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 15: A view of the outside of Neyland Stadium before a game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers on September 15, 2012 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Sommers II/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 15: A view of the outside of Neyland Stadium before a game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers on September 15, 2012 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Sommers II/Getty Images) /
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Photo by John Sommers II/Getty Images /

5. Joe Pannunzio

Director of team development

Philadelphia Eagles

Joe Pannunzio is the most likely scenario for Tennessee football if they end up moving Brian Niedermeyer over to running backs coach. Pannunzio coming in would give Jeremy Pruitt options to make one of them running backs coach and one of them tight ends coach, as Pannunzio did both while working as an assistant with the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Pruitt and Pannunzio were there the same two seasons, 2016 and 2017, and Pannunzio also coached special teams one year. So he brings a lot of diverse experience, which is a big deal. Spending this past year as director of team development with the Philadelphia Eagles gives him an even greater profile with real NFL experience.

In addition to time at Alabama and the NFL, Pannunizo was the head coach of the Murray State Racers in the early 2000s, winning the Ohio Valley Conference in 2002. The 60-year-old also has experience with the Miami Hurricanes, Auburn Tigers, Ole Miss Rebels, Minnesota Golden Gophers and TCU Horned Frogs. He coached offensive line at TCU. Simply put, he’s done it all in his time.

Considering the fact that he was a former quarterback, he pretty much has experience coaching every aspect of the offense, and he is familiar with Pruitt. Add in his connections to Texas, Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Minnesota, and he’s got lots of recruiting ground to cover as well. That makes him a great candidate for Pruitt to bring on board.

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