Tennessee is in its first game week of the 2026 season, and new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles met with the media ahead of Saturday’s opener against Furman at Neyland Stadium. Here’s everything he said.
On what games will tell him about his players
“You see a lot of things in practice. And then when you go to game plan an opponent, you want to take advantage of what your players do best. Of course, you never truly know until the game, but I think we learned a lot during preseason.”
On losing Edrees Farooq and who steps up
“We will definitely miss Edrees. He was one of the guys that I was most impressed with from the time I arrived here. That’s a big part of the defense. It’s a cliche, but everybody says next man up. So what we’ve had to do is just rotate some guys around at different positions to prepare for those situations when we might need a guy. So we’ve just had to make more guys interchangeable, including Qua [Moss], who I think is very talented.
So we’re cross-training him at the high safety positions, not only the nickel position, because we have enough good linebackers to be able to play a big nickel, Sam type of position. And if we need Qua in the back end, we can do that. So we’re just cross-training. And then the backups with Sidney [Walton] and Dylan [Lewis] and DJ Burks. So we’re just trying to really cross-train everywhere because of the fact that we’re a little thin there.”
On whether he’s pleased with the install
“I’m really pleased. I’ve found the players to pick things up, to be really diligent in their learning, and very receptive. Brought in some guys that we know, and the coaches who know me, that certainly helps. But I think there’s a good culture here of learning, and I’ve been impressed with what they’ve picked up.”
On what he’s learned about the pass rush
“I thought we did well in the preseason. Creating some things through various schemes, not going to get into game planning, but we did some things in fall camp that were effective. So I was impressed with what we could generate against our offense, which is a really good offense. Like anything, game time will tell. Game time will tell.”
On the players who stood out in camp
“Telander, he’s certainly like the heart and soul of our defense, which I knew, but I found that he has some particular skills that we can really use to put him in great positions to make plays, and he’s really tough. So I think Telander showed a lot of versatility.
And Kayin Lee has grown. He’s grown. I’ve seen his development in terms of the seriousness about which he takes the preparation for the corner position. I’m hopeful that a light bulb has really gone on for him. And up front, Xavier Gilliam, who I knew brought here with us, but he’s really taken the next step. I think he can be a great one. So those are three guys that I saw a lot of things during camp that were impressive.”
On the emphasis on tackling
“We’ve seen gains. That’s a good thing, right? We’ve tracked percentages from the spring, and it’s definitely gone up at all positions. I don’t think it ever goes up to the point I want it, until it’s 100%, which you’re never going to be in tackling. But I have seen tracked analytical gains in our tackling from the spring. Guys are going to miss tackles, but there’s a right way and a wrong way to miss tackles. So we’re teaching them that, too. If you miss, but you’re on the right angle and you miss, you’ll have a teammate or a sideline there to help you. So aside from making the tackle, if you do miss, there’s a right way to miss it.”
On going against QB Faizon Brandon
“From what I’ve seen, and I don’t study it, but he is cool and calm. He has a lot of poise for a young guy, and he certainly can make plays with his feet, which I know all too well is very dangerous for a defense. But I’ve just been impressed with his maturity for a true freshman.”
On why Jeremiah Telander is the heart and soul of the defense
“Well, he’s Mr. Tennessee. I mean, he bleeds orange. He’s got a lot of energy. He’s got toughness. He never makes excuses. He always wants to get better. He’s a throwback kind of player. And I think as coaches, or I guess I should say older coaches like me, you like to see those guys who are just tough and gritty and who don’t make excuses. You’re not going to get any excuses out of him. If he makes a mistake, he’s going to fix it and take accountability for it, which is what you want out of all your players.”
On what he wants to accomplish against Furman
“I don’t want to give up any yards. I want to get a shutout. I don’t want to give up any first downs. Every game you go into, it’s a process. But mostly I want to teach how we prepare for an opponent, how serious practice is. I went over with the guys, practice does not make perfect. That’s a myth. Practice makes permanent. So, therefore, perfect practice makes perfect. So we have to instill that mentality in game week that if you make a mistake, we got to do it on the grass. You got to do it on the grass in practice to expect to do it in the game. And if you make a mistake in practice, I’m going to find out why and I’m going to challenge you. Because, like I’ve said, when it comes to the game, if you make a mistake in the game, that’s my fault because I didn’t get you ready.
But we’re really just trying to establish the tempo of preparation for an opponent. It doesn’t matter who we’re playing. How do we do it? How intense is it? The responsibilities that the players have for the game plan and the details of the game plan. How we practice. How we execute the game plan.”
On what he wants from the backup safeties
“I want to see them make more plays in practice. I mean, that’s exactly what I talked about. I want to see them make more plays in practice, do the right things, make fast decisions, stay on top when they’re supposed to stay on top, drop it into the box, can they see the play and react to it. When you face a lot of RPO, I mean, that’s where the safeties, you get into that bind where the quarterback is reading you. So I want to see them do it in practice because you put a guy in the game, he hasn’t done it in practice, you can’t expect him to do it in the game. So they’re making progress. They’re making progress. But we need more out of them in practice. They need to be productive.”
On Arion Carter’s reduced suspension
“My reaction was hooray, hooray. Still felt bad for him. He has to miss a game. I mean, you don’t want to see a leader of your team and a great player sit out any game. So I’m just grateful for him and for our defense.”
