So shocked:Tennessee volunteers key players has snup transfer porter.
It’s been a wild week when it comes to coaching news. And a former Tennessee Vols star is now at the center of the NFL’s biggest storyline thanks to some of that news.
On Thursday morning, news broke that the New England Patriots and head coach Bill Belichick mutually agreed to part ways.
With Belichick out in New England, the attention turns to his potential replacement.
Former Vols linebacker Jerod Mayo, who is currently a linebackers coach for the Patriots, is considered the leading in-house candidate to replace Belichick.
Mayo signed an extension with the Patriots last offseason instead of pursuing other head coaching opportunities he wisely turned down a chance to interview with the increasingly dysfunctional Carolina Panthers.
While Mayo might be the top in-house candidate, he’s likely not the leading overall candidate.
Mike Vrabel, who was fired by the Tennessee Titans earlier this week, has long been rumored as Patriots owner Robert Kraft’s top choice to replace Belichick. Now that Vrabel is available, it would be an upset if anyone else lands the New England job.
Of course, you never say never when it comes to the NFL. The world’s most popular sports league is known for its twists and turns, so we can’t rule out that Mayo will get a shot.
If Vrabel, however, gets the job, it’s possible that Mayo could take over as his defensive coordinator Vrabel and Mayo were teammates for one season in New England, Mayo’s rookie year.
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Tennessee’s coaching staff is preparing to host many visitors during the open period over the next few weeks. They had several priority 2025 visitors on campus last weekend, including Brentwood Academy quarterback George MacIntyre who committed to the Vols a few days later.
This weekend, they will bring several other top talents to campus, including Jackson High School athlete Jamarrion Gordon.
Gordon is a 2026 defender from Jackson, Alabama. He is high school teammates with 2026 South Carolina quarterback commit Landon Duckworth, whom Tennessee brought in for an unofficial visit last summer.
He’s tripped to Alabama twice and Auburn once, and this will be his third stop in Knoxville, Tennessee. Gordon has tallied 72 tackles, two TFLs, a sack, and two interceptions across his two high school football seasons.
Tennessee is quickly building a relationship with Gordon before he becomes an upperclassman. It appears that the Vols are recruiting him as a defensive back, as defensive backs coach Willie Martinez has been working on this one.
Tennessee has recruited the state of Alabama well over the past few seasons, and they may be returning for Gordon in 2026.
