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Tennessee Vols: Ranking The Potential Slam Dunk Replacements For Butch Jones

By Zach Ragan

Sep 24, 2016; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Butch Jones during the first quarter against the Florida Gators at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 24, 2016; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Butch Jones during the first quarter against the Florida Gators at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 2, 2017; Pasadena, CA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions coach James Franklin reacts during the 103rd Rose Bowl against the USC Trojans at Rose Bowl. USC defeated Penn State 52-49 in the highest scoring game in Rose Bowl history. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 2, 2017; Pasadena, CA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions coach James Franklin reacts during the 103rd Rose Bowl against the USC Trojans at Rose Bowl. USC defeated Penn State 52-49 in the highest scoring game in Rose Bowl history. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

2. James Franklin — Penn State

Career Record: 49-30

Big Ten Champion (2016) 

This would probably be a very unpopular choice among Vol fans, but I’m not sure why.

James Franklin is one of the best coaches in the country. There’s no way to deny it.

Franklin turned Vanderbilt into a nine game winner in back to back seasons. He’s never coached a team that failed to reach a bowl game. And he just led Penn State to a Big 10 championship and 11 win season.

There’s really no telling what kind of success he could have at Tennessee.

Of course getting Franklin to Tennessee would be another story. He has a pretty good gig with Penn State, but he’s obviously a competitive guy, so he might want the chance to prove he can win like Nick Saban in the SEC.

Coaching at Tennessee would provide Franklin the opportunity to prove he’s an elite head coach in the best college football conference in the nation.

Vol fans might not like Franklin because of the success he had against Tennessee while he was at Vanderbilt, but I don’t think there’s any question that he’d quickly turn Tennessee into a national championship contender.

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