Tennessee football: Ranking all Vols staff changes during 2020 offseason

5. Hiring Jimmy Brumbaugh as defensive line coach and co-defensive coordinator

In terms of qualifications and recruiting connections, Tennessee football actually got a very good hire in Jimmy Brumbaugh. After all, he stretches the Vols’ connections to Colorado and New York, and he also deepens their junior college ties with his one year of experience at East Mississippi Community College, commonly known as Last Chance U.

However, the roles he has and the people he replaces are why we have him last on this list. As a defensive line coach in particular, Brumbaugh has been fired once before, he hasn’t produced a ton of talent recently, and he’s replacing Tracy Rocker, who has been amazing when it comes to developing talent up front. Replacing Rocker is the big thing that makes this a negative.

Beyond that, however, his role as co-defensive coordinator comes into question. Chris Rumph did a very good job in that role for two years. Brumbaugh, meanwhile, has served in that role at two different schools during the past three years, and none of those schools have had a winning record. As a result, you have to question giving him these roles right now.

Jeremy Pruitt at least didn’t choose to get rid of Rumph, and he may not have chosen to get rid of Rocker. What’s clear, though, is the Vols have potential but a much less sure bet in Brumbaugh taking on both of those roles. He’s got a lot to prove, and until he does, we have to keep this move down at No. 5.