After three years of some Tennessee football fans wanting to run Tim Banks out of town, he’s got the No. 1 defense in college football.
So was Banks an elite defensive coordinator all along? Or has he just been blessed this season with better players?
That’ll be relevant at the end of this season when Banks’ contract expires.
On this edition of “The Volunteer State,” UT football beat writer Adam Sparks and columnist John Adams of Knox News discuss how Banks changed the minds of many fans.
No. 4 Tennessee (4-0, 1-0 SEC) plays Arkansas (3-2, 1-1) on Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC) in Fayetteville. The Razorbacks have big-play potential with quarterback Taylen Green and aggressive offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino, so UT’s defense should be tested.
The Vols enter the game ranked No. 1 nationally in total defense (176 ypg), No. 2 in scoring defense (7 ppg), No. 2 in rush defense (50.8 ypg) and No. 4 in pass defense (125.3 ypg).
How much credit does Banks deserve for that impressive start?
Should Tim Banks get a raise, extension after 2024 season?
Banks’ defense has gotten better each season at Tennessee. It ranked No. 99 in total defense in 2021, No. 92 in 2022, No. 33 in 2023 and No. 1 in 2024.
Adams believes that Banks had reasonable excuses for shortcomings when he came to UT. The roster was depleted after coach Jeremy Pruitt was fired. And Banks had to coach opposite Josh Heupel’s up-tempo offense, which racked up points and put its defense on the field with little rest.
Sparks and Adams agreed that Banks has benefitted from a fortified 2024 roster of talented recruits and transfers. Of course, Banks helped collect that talent and develop it into a stingy unit. Adams also credited Banks with utilizing depth on the defensive line where many coordinators would’ve narrowed the rotation in favor of select players.
Banks earns $1.5 million annually. But if the Vols keep playing this well, he may be due for a raise and contract extension after this season. But there’s a lot of football ahead to make that case.
Also on this episode of “The Volunteer State,” Sparks and Adams touch on these topics:
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The Oklahoma quarterback aftermath of Tennessee’s win in Norman
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Breakdown of Tennessee’s upcoming game at Arkansas
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How that Georgia-Alabama thriller could change Tennessee’s outlook
Where to listen to The Volunteer State
Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tim Banks turned Tennessee football fans from critics to staunch supporters
