Tennessee football is losing a piece of Jim Knowles’ inaugural defensive staff before spring camp. Michael Hunter Jr., the Vols’ cornerbacks coach for just over a month, is taking the job as the Los Angeles Rams’ secondary coach, according to Matt Zenitz.
With the Rams, he’ll have a former Tennessee player in his position group. Jaylen McCollough is currently a safety for the team. Byron Young is also rostered, though he is an outside linebacker.
Hunter was hired by Knowles in early January to join him and co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Anthony Poindexter in coaching the secondary. Now, UT will be looking to find a new cornerbacks coach with spring ball just around the corner.
“I couldn’t be more excited about being here at Tennessee,” Hunter said when he was hired. “Thanks to Coach Heupel and Coach Knowles for giving me this opportunity. I take great pride in building relationships with our players and helping them become the best they can be on and off the field.”
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Hunter joined Tennessee after spending the past two seasons at Ohio State as an assistant defensive backs coach. In 2024, his first year with the Buckeyes, he worked under Knowles on the national championship team. Before that, Hunter coached at Oklahoma State as a graduate assistant and at Tulsa as a cornerbacks coach.
Hunter was also an NFL player from 2016-19. He was rostered, whether active or practice squad, on the Giants, Jets, Broncos, Bills, Texans and Chiefs during that stretch. He played his college football at both Indiana and Oklahoma State.
