Tennessee football: Five positives from Vols hiring LB coach Shelton Felton

4. Familiarity with Jeremy Pruitt

In 2018, Shelton Felton was in a quality analyst role off the field for Tennessee football. As a result, he was helping Jeremy Pruitt with the ins and outs of his X’s and O’s, and that means that he is familiar with the system Pruitt likes to run, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. That means there won’t be any learning curve when he takes the job.

With the Vols on the rise, the last thing they needed was a coach who needed a learning curve. They can’t afford to pass up what could potentially turn into a great season this year given all the talent arriving. Felton doesn’t provide that worry at all, and it’s a major positive in Pruitt hiring him. The guy has already worked in the system and with multiple members of the staff.

Of course, when Felton was first there, it was Pruitt’s first year, and he was trying to install his 3-4 defensive scheme. The fact that Felton had to help him through those massive growing pains should only make it easier for him now, even in an on-field role. Taking that into account, there’s a legitimate chance that Pruitt and the Vols don’t miss a beat with him at the helm.

Felton and Pruitt obviously have deeper connections, as both played college in Alabama. A graduate of the Troy Trojans in 2002, Felton is another player on Pruitt’s staff who has a connection to that state. They also clearly now have connections when it comes to philosophy, and that’s good news for Rocky Top.