Update on the Tennessee staff

This off season has been an active one for Jeremy Pruitt and his Tennessee staff.

Since the end of their 8-5 season and win over Indiana in the Gator Bowl, turnover has hit the Tennessee staff quite hard.

Just this morning on The Scoop, word broke that defensive line coach Tracy Rocker was accepting the same role on Will Muschamp's staff at South Carolina and that Pruitt was turning to Colorado defensive line coach Jimmy Brumbaugh to step in as the new Vols defensive line coach.

Also, director of player personnel Drew Hughes is expected to join the Gamecocks as well.

Sources had shared with FootballScoop that Vols co-defensive coordinator and outside linebackers coach Chris Rumph had a few interviews with NFL teams. Earlier today, the Houston Texans were reported as his landing spot.

With those moves getting out today, along with the previous departures of running backs coach David Johnson (who left for Florida State), and inside linebackers coach Kevin Sherrer (who left for the Giants), it's clear to see the Vols staff of 2020 will look significantly different.

Pruitt has since filled a couple of those recently opened roles, like shuffling Brian Niedermeyer from tight ends to inside linebackers and promoting Joe Osovet from the support staff to tight ends coach. He also was able to bring former Vols running back Jay Graham back to Knoxville, hiring the former Texas A&M assistant as their new running backs coach.

Receivers coach Tee Martin was approached about joining multiple staffs this offseason (including as head coach for an FCS opportunity we heard); but at this time remains on Rocky Top.

Overall, the defensive side of the ball is seeing the biggest overhaul, with only defensive coordinator Derrick Ansley returning at this point for 2020. All other assistants will be new.

Since Pruitt took over heading into the 2018 season, six of his original ten on-field hires are no longer part of the program.

On the support staff front, the program brought in Andrew Warsaw as DFO, and we understand Todd Watson (who had served in the DFO role) will move into a different role, similar to a chief of staff role with the team.

Like we said: significant changes.

Here's a look at the Vols' staff from last year, as well as what they have returning - and reportedly joining the staff for the 2020.

* = per reports. See The Scoop for details.

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