Tim Banks' defense facing challenge in defending Clemson's offense
MIAMI, Fla. — Tennessee defensive coordinator Tim Banks has seen improvement in his defense from year one to year two. As the Vols look to close out the 2022 season the Orange Bowl against Clemson, Banks is dealing with a couple of challenges.
The Vols will be without linebacker Jeremy Banks. That news is not a surprised to anyone in the program but Banks is still a loss as Banks’ reps are likely to be divided up between Aaron Beasley, the Vols’ leading tackler, and Juan Mitchell.
The other major challenge for Banks’ defense is getting a beed on freshman quarterback Cade Klubnik.
The first year Tiger played little in the regular season but showed out in the ACC Championship earning MVP honors in the Tigers’ 39-10 win over North Carolina. Klubnik was 20 of 24 for 279 yards an a touchdown. He also had 30 yards rushing on 7 carries with a touchdown. He also caught a 19 yard touchdown pass.
Klubnik has help in sophomore running back Will Shipley. Shipley leads the Tigers with 1110 yards rushing and 15 touchdowns. Shipley is averaging 5.8 yards a rush. Shipley also has 34 receptions and 261 yards in kickoff returns this season in helping lead the Tigers to an 11-2 record.
Tennessee pitched a shut out in the season finale against Vanderbilt just a week after giving up 63 points and 606 yards at South Carolina.
Banks met the media on Tuesday along with several defenders as a part of the Orange Bowl’s media schedule to discuss the growth of his defense in 2022 and the challenges the Vols face Friday night against Clemson.
