Last month, Tennessee football coach Josh Heupel was able to make a splash by preventing Tim Banks from going elsewhere. Banks reportedly had interest from Miami and Clemson to leave Knoxville for a new opportunity, but he said no thanks.
Now, though, Heupel hasn't had the same kind of luck with a different coach. According to reporter Austin Price, the Vols are losing special teams coordinator Mike Ekeler, as he has decided to take the same role with the Nebraska Cornhuskers. This was not the news Vols fans were expecting to start the new week:
BREAKING: @CoachEkelerUT is headed back to Nebraska to join Matt Rhule’s staff in Lincoln. https://t.co/qJRiiFMmLh
— Austin Price (@AustinPriceless) February 3, 2025
Mike Ekeler is reportedly leaving Tennessee and accepting a job with Nebraska
For the past four seasons, Ekeler has been in Knoxville doing great work to lead the special teams unit. There's no way to sugarcoat things here - it's a big loss for Heupel, but on a personal level, this move makes a ton of sense for Ekeler and his family.
Ekeler is a Nebraska native and he was previously on staff with the Cornhuskers from 2008-10. This is considered a homecoming for him. While the Cornhuskers have been through some lean years of late, Matt Rhule has the fanbase confident he can get this team back at the top of the Big Ten.
As for Tennessee, the Vols are coming off the program's first trip to the College Football Playoff in school history. Behind the strong play of Nico Iamaleava, Dylan Sampson, James Pearce Jr. and others, UT posted a 10-win season too. The hope is more of the same will be on the way in 2025.
That's not going to be easy, though, as plenty of talented playmakers are either off to the NFL or new teams via the transfer portal. On top of that, a key assistant for Heupel in Ekeler is on his way out of town as well.