Tenn Truth
Fansided

Vols Football: Five Candidates To Consider If Tennessee Defensive Line Coach Steve Stripling Leaves

By Zach Ragan

facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
Oct 22, 2016; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Football players run onto the field prior to the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 22, 2016; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Football players run onto the field prior to the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-USA TODAY Sports /

Sean Spencer

Current position: Defensive Line Coach/Run Game Coordinator at Penn State

This is the other obvious defensive line coach candidate for the Volunteers.

Sean Spencer has coached with Vols defensive coordinator Bob Shoop since 2011 at Vanderbilt.

Spencer made the move with James Franklin and Shoop to Penn State in 2014.

Honestly, this move makes more sense, at least to me, than hiring Brady Hoke.

Spencer’s had success with Shoop. Staff continuity is important. There’s a reason that Shoop’s defense was so successful at Vanderbilt and Penn State but not at Tennessee last season.

Of course there’s the obvious question of whether or not Spencer will leave Penn State.

What’s his relationship with Shoop? Is it good enough to leave a program that barely missed the college football playoffs last season?

Franklin stated in 2015 that Spencer turned down an opportunity to join a staff elsewhere.

However, that was prior to Shoop leaving for Tennessee.

I think Jones can get Spencer if he goes after him.

And if I were Jones, I’d make Spencer my top target.

Home/Tennessee Volunteers