Tennessee football coach Jeremy Pruitt now needs an offensive lineman and defensive lineman.
Will Friend, the coach of the Volunteers’ offensive line for the past three seasons, was named on Sunday to the same position in South Carolina under new coach Shane Beamer. Friend will meet with offensive coordinator Mike Bobo, who is being hired by Beamer after serving as an interim coach when Will Muschamp was fired last month.
Friend was the offensive coordinator and coach of the offensive line under Bobo in Colorado State for five seasons (2015-19).
“Will has a history of developing excellent lineworkers during his coaching career,” said Beamer in a Gamecocks statement. “He knows what it takes to compete in the SEC and brings the momentum and energy that we want in our team.”
Tennessee’s left guard, Trey Smith, has won the honors of the All-Southeastern Conference senior team for the past two seasons under Friend, while facing Wanya Morris and Darnell Wright were Freshman All-SEC selections in 2019.
Beamer has appointed seven of his 10 full-time assistants – Bobo, Friend, Des Kitchings running back coach, defensive line coach Tracy Rocker, external lineback coach Mike Peterson, tight end coach Erik Kimrey and special team coordinator Pete Lembo. Kitchings, Peterson and Rocker are also being hired by Muschamp’s team.
All Beamer signings are pending approval from the university’s board of trustees, which is due to meet on January 4.
Pruitt has been without a defense coach since he fired Jimmy Brumbaugh on October 18, the day after the Vols were surprisingly defeated 34-7 by Kentucky at Neyland Stadium. Pruitt took over the defensive duties in the last six games of what turned out to be a disappointing 3-7 season.
Contact David Paschall at [email protected] or 423-757-6524. Follow him on Twitter @DavidSPaschall.