ELITE: Jim Knowles is the Tennessee Volunteers’ Defensive FIX | Expect MAJOR Adjustments for Josh Heupel’s Program

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4.8 • 797 Ratings

🗓️ 17 December 2025

⏱️ 36 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Tennessee Volunteers score big with the hiring of Jim Knowles as defensive coordinator, igniting fresh optimism for a defensive turnaround in 2026. Can Knowles’ proven experience be the missing piece for Josh Heupel’s squad? Eric Cain and Josh Ward break down how Knowles’ arrival could reshape Tennessee’s defensive identity, dissect the challenging SEC schedule, and examine the roster’s readiness to evolve. Key matchups, including clash-ups against Texas A&M, Auburn, and South Carolina, set the stage for must-win moments and potential SEC upsets. Plus, Eric Cain highlights the rise of Tennessee’s super sophomores—Mike Matthews, DeSean Bishop, and Ethan Davis—and what their growth signals for the Vols’ future. Special guest Noah Taylor revisits the dramatic 1974 Liberty Bowl victory over Maryland, spotlighting legendary moments from Condredge Holloway and Larry Seivers. Don’t miss this comprehensive analysis of the Tennessee Volunteers’ path to redemption on Rocky Top.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Jim Knowles was the best defensive coordinator Josh Hopple could have possibly hired in this cycle,
0:05.2	and the proof is going to be the putting. The results are going to show sooner rather than later.
0:14.9	You are locked on balls, your daily podcast on the Tennessee Volunteers.
0:20.3	Part of the Locked on Podcast Network, your team every day.
0:24.8	What is up, everybody?
0:25.7	Welcome into it, your Wednesday morning.
0:27.6	Locked on Vols.
0:28.6	I'm your host, Eric Kane, a member of the Vaultquest.com team here in town covering
0:31.7	your Tennessee Volunteers.
0:33.2	We are a part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, the number one sports podcasting network
0:37.1	available right now. Today's episode is presented by our friends over at Fandall Sportsbook, where if you want to be right in the middle of the action this season, visit fandle.com to place your NFL bets all season long. A big shout out to Fandall. Again, I'm your host, Eric Kane and member of the Valquest.com team here in town and cover your Tennessee volunteers.
0:54.5	And of course, the host here of Lockdown Vault.
0:56.7	In today's episode, we're going to throw it way back to 1974.
1:00.9	51 years this week, Tennessee took down Maryland and the Liberty Bowl.
1:04.8	Noah Taylor of Nayland Press Corps is going to jump on the show and break down a lot of exciting things that happened.
1:10.0	A lot of great quotes from his story.
1:11.8	And that's coming up as we throw it way back on a Wednesday with NPC in segment three.
1:16.9	Super sophomores on Tennessee's offensive side of the football.
1:20.5	But first, Josh Ward get his thoughts on Jim Knowles.
1:24.2	The schedule drop, hardest, toughest game, easiest, most manageable game for Tennessee
1:28.5	football in 2026 and so much more. Josh Ward has a lot to say about the status of Tennessee
1:33.6	football, specifically Jim Knowles and how good of a hire this was for the University of Tennessee,
	...

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