Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt brought in USC quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator Tyson Helton to be his offensive coordinator shortly after he was hired as the Vols’ head coach last year. Now, not even a year later, Pruitt might be looking for another offensive coordinator.
According to a report from FootballScoop.com, Pruitt is considering parting ways with Helton after just one season as Tennessee’s OC.
“Sources tell FootballScoop that Jeremy Pruitt is planning to make a change at offensive coordinator,” the report reads. “Pruitt hired Tyson Helton to be the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in Knoxville after he previously served as the quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator for his brother, Clay, at USC. Helton had been extremely successful as offensive coordinator at Western Kentucky prior to joining Clay’s staff at USC.
“However, the Vols offense has had their share of struggles this season.”
Helton had never been an offensive coordinator at a Power Five school prior to his hiring at Tennessee, but that didn’t stop UT from giving him a three-year, $1.2 million annual salary to call plays for the Vols. Helton served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Western Kentucky in 2014 and 2015, but that’s the only experience Helton had as the primary play-caller as a collegiate coach.
Heading into Saturday’s game against Vanderbilt, the Vols were 13th in the SEC in points scored per game, last in rushing yards a game, 11th in passing yards a game, and dead last in total offense.
Against the Commodores, the Vols didn’t improve on any of those numbers.
Tennessee managed just 13 points against Vanderbilt, and they totaled 242 yards of offense on 47 plays. The Vols picked up 104 rushing yards and averaged 7.4 yards a carry, but Tennessee ran the ball just 14 times against the Commodores. Tennessee was also just 3-of-11 on third downs against the Commodores.
We will update as more information becomes available.
