What Jeremy Pruitt’s defensive staff could look like in 2021

What Jeremy Pruitt’s defensive staff could look like in 2021.

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Derrick Ansley – Defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach

Ansley is set to return for his third season under Pruitt, his fourth overall at UT (2012, 2019-present).

He would likely remain in a defensive coordinator role, while overseeing Tennessee’s defensive backs.

Ansley has an understanding of Pruitt’s defensive scheme, one that he went into detail about during fall training camp in regards to a split safety coverage.

“We want to play football, tight close man-to-man,” Ansley said during fall training camp. “We want to deny the football. We want to affect the quarterback with four rushers and play split safety defense as much as we can.”

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