Will Friend
Track Record:
West Alabama (OL) — 2001
Tuscaloosa Central HS, Ala. (assistant) — 2002
Georgia (Grad Assistant) — 2003-04
Gardner-Webb (OL) — 2005-06
UAB (OL) — 2007-10
Georgia (OL) — 2011-13
Georgia (OL/Run Game Coordinator) — 2014
Colorado State (OC/OL) — 2015-17
Tennessee (OL) — 2018-present
Pros: The transition from Helton to Friend would be seamless since Friend is already on staff, and he’s shown he can be at least a decent play-caller with his time at Colorado State. He also served as the running game coordinator and O-line coach at Georgia in 2014. If Pruitt misses out on some of his top targets, he could promote from within and make Friend the play-caller.
Cons/Questions: While he called plays at Colorado State, Friend has never been the full-time play-caller at an SEC school. Would Pruitt entrust the job to him over a more experienced play-caller? Plus, Friend has his hands full with the Vols’ offensive line unit. Does he need added responsibility?
