Tennessee has made a splash hire for its new defensive coordinator.

The Volunteers announced the hiring of former Penn State and Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles on Thursday. Knowles is regarded as one of the top defensive minds in the sport and helped lead the Buckeyes to a national title in 2024.

He was hired at Penn State this past offseason in a blockbuster poach, but after a doomed season in Happy Valley that saw head coach James Franklin fired, Knowles — who was also previously a defensive coordinator at Oklahoma State, Duke and Western Michigan — is heading to the SEC.

"Hiring Jim Knowles was our top priority from the start of this process," coach Josh Heupel said in a release. "Jim has a proven track record of developing elite defenses that play with an edge, and we got to see that first-hand during the 2024 College Football Playoff. His defenses are always physical, well prepared and can adapt quickly in-game against today's complex offenses. He's a competitor, a winner and someone who will get the most out of our players in practice and on gameday. We are thrilled to welcome Jim to Rocky Top as he helps us chase championships."

Knowles replaces previous defensive coordinator Tim Banks, who helmed one of the SEC's top defenses in 2024 before overseeing a significant backslide on that side of the ball this season as the Volunteers finished bottom three in the SEC in both scoring and total defense.

Banks was reportedly hired at Auburn as its defensive line coach the same day the Knowles hire was announced.

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This article originally appeared on College Sports Wire: Tennessee makes splashy DC hire, brings in a national title-winner

Reporting by Tyler Nettuno, College Sports Wire / College Sports Wire

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