A key point of emphasis in the assembling of Jim Knowles’ defensive staff, was bringing on board men that the new defensive coordinator could trust and has worked with before.
Serving in the role of LEOs coach, Andrew Jackson was hired to Knowles’ staff in early January after working under the coach last season as an assistant defensive line coach at Penn State.
Jackson brings 13 years of coaching experience to Tennessee and has worked various roles within defenses at Mississippi State, West Virginia, Old Dominion and Fordham.
Upon being offered the LEOs position coach job at Tennessee, the choice was easy for Jackson.
“It's an opportunity to work with coach Knowles again. Opportunity to come to Tennessee, a great place, to work with coach (Josh) Heupel… another opportunity to come back to the SEC and coach,” Jackson said.
As LEOs coach, Jackson will work with weak-side defensive ends in certain defensive sets/formations. In this role, Jackson will work closely with defensive lineman as well as some linebackers.
“Young and inexperienced so far,” Jackson said when asked of his first impressions of his defensive room. “But a lot of good football minds. [They are] really receptive to coaching.”
Jackson joins several veteran coaches on Tennessee’s staff under Knowles and can already feel the passion and intention that this group will bring in 2026.
“A wealth of experience,” Jackson said of the attraction of his fellow defensive coaches. “They're still willing to teach and they love the game… they just want to go out and win.”
Knowles also added former Virginia Tech cornerbacks coach Derek Jones to his staff in the same role, for 2026.
Jones and Knowles have reunited on Rocky Top, after working together for several years at Duke University under former Tennessee coach David Cutcliffe.
Jones has a second-hand connection to Tennessee football and its culture because of his time spent under Cutcliffe who Jones says incorporated many Tennessee ideals into his Duke football operations.
“I know an awful lot about Tennessee. It was a part of my early DNA,” Jones said.
After years of hearing only stories and mantras from the glory days of Volunteers football, Jones now has the opportunity to make some history of his own in the orange as the new CBs coach.