Tennessee defensive line coach Rodney Garner has been

Rodney Garner, a defensive lineman for the Tennessee Volunteers, is not leaving the team, despite rumors that he would be going to Auburn.

Over the past few years, one of the program’s greatest assets has been Rodney Garner, the defensive line coach at Tennessee. Even with a few subpar pass defenders, his teams regularly interfered with football games. He recruits at the highest level and sends individuals to the NFL. Attention follows achievement; Garner is a desirable recruit for any college, and Auburn made moves against him this offseason.

Austin Price of VolQuest has confirmed that Garner will indeed return to the University of Tennessee for the upcoming season, despite a number of rumors and whispers suggesting that he was considering returning to his alma university. For Tennessee’s coaching staff, which hasn’t changed at all this summer, this is huge news. Since taking over, head coach Josh Heupel has emphasized unity among his team members, including his assistants. Garner, who continues to rank among college football’s best assistants, has been a vital component of the Vols’ defensive strategy. Regaining him in orange and white helps the team build on a successful campaign from the previous year and ensures an interesting offseason along the defensive line.

Rodney Garner, the DL coach for the Tennessee Volunteers, during the 2021 Music City Bowl. (New Sentinel photo by Calvin Mattheis)