KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – After guiding a Tennessee defense that ranked in the FBS top 10 in eight different categories, defensive coordinator Tim Banks was honored as a semifinalist for the Frank Broyles Award, which is presented annually to college football’s top assistant coach.
The Frank & Barbara Broyles Foundation announced 15 semifinalists Tuesday out of 65 FBS nominees. Banks is the Volunteers’ second semifinalist in three seasons under head coach Josh Heupel, as former offensive coordinator and current USF head coach Alex Golesh was recognized in 2022. Banks is one of four SEC coaches on the semifinalist list, joining South Carolina’s Clayton White, Texas’ Pete Kwiatkowski and Vanderbilt’s Tim Beck.
Banks is in his fourth season with the program and his 18th as an FBS defensive coordinator. He has overseen and built a Tennessee unit that has become one of the best in the nation. His defense served as a catalyst for a UT team that won 10 regular season games for the second time in three years and will punch its first ticket to the College Football Playoff.
The Vols held 10 of their 12 opponents under 20 points, and the 12th and final regular season opponent went over 20 with a kickoff return for a touchdown. Tennessee held eight of its nine Power Four opponents under their season scoring average. Only Georgia scored more than it averaged, and it was only by +0.4 in its home stadium.
The Vols ranked in the FBS top 20 in 11 different categories, including fourth-down conversions (1st – 28.6), scoring defense (4th – 13.9), yards per play allowed (4th – 4.33), total defense (5th – 278.3), third-down conversions (5th – 29.5), tackles for loss (6th – 7.8). rushing defense (9th – 99.6), team passing efficiency defense (10th – 110.51), red zone defense (11th – 73.5), first downs allowed (16th – 201) and passing defense (16th – 178.7).
Banks’ defense ranked either first or second in the SEC in eight different categories: third-down conversions (2nd), fourth-down conversions (1st), yards per play allowed (2nd), rushing defense (2nd), scoring defense (2nd), total defense (2nd), team passing efficiency defense (2nd) and tackles for loss (2nd).
Meanwhile, Tennessee gave up only 18 offensive touchdowns all season, which ranked tied for fourth in the FBS and tied for second in the SEC. Banks oversaw a squad that allowed only 167 total points all season, which was tied for fifth in the FBS and tied for second in the SEC. That was the fewest issued by the Vols since 1999.
Tennessee’s defense proved to be one of the best in the country at limiting explosive plays. The Vols tied for second in the FBS and led the SEC in fewest 40-plus yard plays allowed from scrimmage, issuing only three. Tennessee was also one of only seven FBS teams to allow one play of 50 or more yards all season.
Banks and his staff built a strong culture, and it allowed depth to flourish with UT rotating as many as 11 defensive linemen during games. The Vols’ 93 total tackles for loss tied for sixth in the FBS and ranked second in the SEC, and a total of 31 different players registered a tackle for loss with 24 collecting multiple TFLs.
The Broyles Award was created in 1996 recognizing Coach Frank Broyles’ legacy of selecting and developing great assistants during his hall of fame career as head coach at Arkansas.
The Broyles Award selection process includes the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), broadcasters, a college football hall-of-fame selection committee and current college head coaches. Five finalists will be announced on Tuesday, Dec. 10.
2024 Tennessee Postseason Award Honors as of Dec. 3
DC Tim Banks
Broyles Award Semifinalist
DB Will Brooks
Burlsworth Trophy Semifinalist
QB Nico Iamaleava
Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award Semifinalist
WR Bru McCoy
Witten Award Semifinalist
DB Jermod McCoy
Thorpe Award Semifinalist
DE James Pearce Jr.
Bednarik Award Semifinalist
Lombardi Award Semifinalist
Walter Camp Player of the Year Semifinalist
LB Keenan Pili
NFF Campbell Trophy Semifinalist
RB Dylan Sampson
Maxwell Award Semifinalist
Doak Walker Award Semifinalist
Offensive Line
Joe Moore Award Semifinalist
