Tennessee football is undergoing defensive renovations this offseason. The Vols moved on from defensive coordinator Tim Banks and hired Jim Knowles as his replacement.
Along with personnel moves, a new system and other changes, Knowles also brings in some of his traditions. One of these is naming a ‘defender of the day’ after practices. This spring camp, Knowles awarded someone the honor eight times throughout camp.
Of these eight, just one was named multiple times. Penn State transfer Xavier Gilliam earned it after practice four and 10.
More From RTI: Projecting Tennessee Football’s 2026 Depth Chart After Spring Camp
Here’s a look at each winner:
DE – Mariyon Dye
Spring 3
“Trust the process, one day at a time! What’s for you is for you and no one can stop that!” Tony Gaskins
@MariyonDye #D-BLOCK #StrengthAndHonor pic.twitter.com/Osq8I9LHlyAdvertisement— Jim Knowles (@CoachJimKnowles) March 23, 2026
DT – Xavier Gilliam
Spring 4
“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new!” Socrates@XavierGilliam_ #D-BLOCK #StrengthAndHonor pic.twitter.com/Ux2wbkfKfR— Jim Knowles (@CoachJimKnowles) March 25, 2026
LB – Edwin Spillman
Spring 5
“Always remember, your focus determines your reality.”
@ESpillman13 #KABO #StrengthAndHonor pic.twitter.com/U54ScLBl4vAdvertisement— Jim Knowles (@CoachJimKnowles) March 27, 2026
S – Edrees Farooq
Spring 7
“I’m going to always rise above the doubt that may exist about me.” T.I.
@EdreesFarooq21 #JackBoyz #StrengthAndHonor pic.twitter.com/9eBpRrX4jG— Jim Knowles (@CoachJimKnowles) March 28, 2026
LB – Jaedon Harmon
Spring 8
“There is no elevator to success, you have to take the stairs.” Zig Ziglar@jaedonharmon10 #KABO #StrengthAndHonor pic.twitter.com/YHbJa01lEt— Jim Knowles (@CoachJimKnowles) April 1, 2026
DT – Xavier Gilliam
Spring 10
“Strength, both physical and spiritual, is the product of struggle!
Napoleon Hill@XavierGilliam_ #D-Block #StrengthAndHonor pic.twitter.com/cXPLMYb65KAdvertisement— Jim Knowles (@CoachJimKnowles) April 6, 2026
LB – Amare Campbell
Spring 11
“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” Buddha@amareGcampbell #KABO #StrengthAndHonor pic.twitter.com/5SsuXaN62K— Jim Knowles (@CoachJimKnowles) April 7, 2026
STAR – Qua Moss
Spring 12
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
@QuaMoss2 #JACKBOYZ #StrengthAndHonor pic.twitter.com/TwdviaiBg0— Jim Knowles (@CoachJimKnowles) April 9, 2026
