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Tennessee football: Breaking down Vols’ new defensive coaching staff

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 29: A general view of Neyland Stadium during the South Carolina Gamecocks game against the Tennessee Volunteers on October 29, 2011 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 29: A general view of Neyland Stadium during the South Carolina Gamecocks game against the Tennessee Volunteers on October 29, 2011 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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Sep 1, 2018; Charlotte, NC, USA; A Tennessee Volunteers helmet is seen pregame before the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 1, 2018; Charlotte, NC, USA; A Tennessee Volunteers helmet is seen pregame before the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Rodney Garner

Defensive line

Josh Heupel got a steal here. Rodney Garner is one of the most experienced coaches and recruiters in the SEC. He has been with the Auburn Tigers since 2013, and before that he was with the Georgia Bulldogs from 1998 to 2012.

Most notably, though, Garner was with Tennessee football in 1996 and 1997. While there, he was a big part of getting Tee Martin to commit to Rocky Top. Before that, he had a previous stint with Auburn and helped recruit the talent that led them to an undefeated campaign in 1993 and the SEC West division championship in 1997.

A graduate of Auburn in the late 1980s, Garner will coach defensive linemen, the position he has been coaching since he left Rocky Top over 20 years. Obviously, he will have a huge role with the defensive line, especially since the Vols are going back to four down linemen where the ends and tackles have different roles.

Add in Garner’s longtime SEC connections and his ability as a recruiter, and the expectations for him are sky-high. He was the first defensive staff member officially hired by Heupel, and we wrote when it happened that he was a home run hire.

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