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Tennessee football: Ranking all 28 offseason coaching changes by impact on Vols

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee Herd Coach Josh Heupel at the 2021 Music City Bowl NCAA college football game at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn. on Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021.Kns Tennessee Purdue
Tennessee Herd Coach Josh Heupel at the 2021 Music City Bowl NCAA college football game at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn. on Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021.Kns Tennessee Purdue /
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Dec 22, 2021; Charlottesville, Virginia, USA; Incoming Virginia Cavaliers head football coach Tony Elliott is introduced to the crowd during a timeout in the game between the Cavaliers and the Clemson Tigers at John Paul Jones Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 22, 2021; Charlottesville, Virginia, USA; Incoming Virginia Cavaliers head football coach Tony Elliott is introduced to the crowd during a timeout in the game between the Cavaliers and the Clemson Tigers at John Paul Jones Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

Pick Analysis. Virginia Cavaliers. Tony Elliott. player. 888. Scouting Report. Bronco Mendenhall. 4

Previous role: Offensive coordinator, Clemson Tigers

Similar to Virginia Tech, any hire the Virginia Cavaliers make will impact Tennessee football somewhat because of the way the Vols target the DMV. However, VT is a bigger deal than UVA on that front, so what makes Tony Elliott a more important hire that affects the Vols?

Well, it was because of where he was hired away from. The Clemson Tigers have been a huge contributing factor to the Vols’ downfall. It started when Dabo Swinney accepted UT rejects like Tajh Boyd, who Lane Kiffin pushed away, back in 2009. However, things really took off when Tony Elliott joined the staff in 2011.

Four years later, Elliott replaced Chad Morris as Clemson offensive coordinator. Serving in that role with Jeff Scott, the two won two national championships in three years and five straight ACC Championships. Scott was hired by the USF Bulls in 2020, but Elliott helped Clemson win a sixth straight ACC title that year.

Anyway, with him gone, there’s a chance Clemson takes a huge hit in recruiting. Elliott replaces Bronco Mendenhall, who willingly stepped down from UVA after a 6-6 2021 campaign and a 36-38 overall record in six seasons there. As a threat to Tennessee football by being at UVA combined with the effect this move has on Clemson, the hire is a huge deal for the Vols.

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