Tennessee running backs coach Jerry Mack and the Jacksonville Jaguars are finalizing a deal that would make Mack the team’s new running backs coach, FootballScoop’s John Brice reported on Friday.
Mack has spent the last three years as Tennessee’s running backs coach. Josh Heupel poached the then Rice offensive coordinator and added him to his inaugural coaching staff in Knoxville.
The Memphis native is one of Tennessee’s best assistant coaches under Heupel. Mack is also considered a rising star in the coaching profession. Tennessee’s running game has been stout in all three seasons under Mack’s leadership.
Perhaps Mack’s biggest achievement in Knoxville was his development of Tennessee running back Jaylen Wright. Mack’s first season at Tennessee was Wright’s freshman season and the talented speedster was an extremely raw running back.
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Under Mack’s tutelage, Wright’s game grew leaps and bounds. He turned into a physical between the tackles runner to go along with his blazing speed. Wright was one of the SEC’s best running backs last season and became Tennessee’s first 1,000-yard rusher since Jalen Hurd in 2015.
Tennessee loses Wright and senior running back Jabari Small this offseason but returns impressive sophomore Dylan Sampson and freshman running back Cam Seldon.
Mack leaving Tennessee would mark the Vols’ first coaching turnover of the offseason. Josh Heupel has largely retained his staff during his three years at Tennessee. Receiver’s coach Kodi Burns left for the New Orleans’ Saints receiver’s coach job following the 2021 season and offensive coordinator/tight end’s coach Alex Golesh left for the South Florida head coaching job last offseason.
Heupel promoted from within each time he’s made a change on his staff. If Mack and Jacksonville officially agree to a deal, we’ll see if Heupel elects to promote from within again or to make an outside hire.
