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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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3. Montario Hardesty

Wide receivers coach

Charlotte 49ers

Running backs coach is a great spot to develop up and comers, and nobody warrants that more than Montario Hardesty. Back in 2009, Hardesty had one of those memorable senior seasons you love to see with Tennessee football, as he became the full-time starter under Lane Kiffin after sitting behind Arian Foster the previous few years. He became beloved on Rocky Top as a result.

Anyway, while his NFL career didn’t work out due to injury, he did join Jeremy Pruitt’s staff as an off-field assistant in 2018 before leaving to become the receivers coach under Charlotte 49ers first-year head coach Will Healy. In the process, he coached a near 1,000-yard receiver in Victor Tucker and a 600-yard receiver in Cameron Dollar.

Charlotte, meanwhile, went from 5-7 to 7-6. Their passing attack overall improved by over 30 yards a game, and that came despite slightly less attempts. So Hardesty helped them oversee major improvement, which is a big deal. His success as a position coach is showing, and he may be a rising star. If that’s the case, Pruitt should bring him home immediately before he misses out.

Hardesty clearly has experience coaching in Pruitt’s system, and now coaching a different position in the spread offense, he can bring a unique perspective to the job. Being a former Vol only makes him an even greater hire, and it’s why he’s the perfect guy to bring back home. Pruitt should always be taking chances on new talent, and Hardesty is one of those guys.

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