Report: Kodi Burns To Join Josh Heupel's On-Field Staff in Knoxville

Report: Kodi Burns To Join Josh Heupel's On-Field Staff in Knoxville

Following Gus Malzahn's firing at Auburn, former Tiger standout and long-time coach, Kodi Burns, headed to Central Florida to join Josh Heupel's staff as the wide receivers coach. A job two former Tennessee staffers, Joe Osovet and Tee Martin expressed interest in, and Osovet interviewed for. Now, following the news that Martin will not remain at Tennessee, instead heading to the NFL, Burns will follow Heupel to Knoxville to coach receivers. The move has been expected since Heupel's hire, but was delayed as Tennessee remained in talks with Martin. However, John Brice of FootballScoop officially broke the news this morning. Brice also reports that Burns is in the building working already.

 Burns, like Alex Golesh, Glen Elarbee, and Joey Halzle has yet to officially be announced by the University, however, the time for that seems to be in the near future. As we have indicated in several of our recruiting updates, the assistant coaches have continued to work the phone lines over the last week. 

Burns served as a co-offensive coordinator and passing game coordinator at Auburn, and he has served as a highly effective recruiter during his time as an SEC assistant coach. He will be a valuable piece for Tennessee given his ties to the South as a recruiter. 

Burns also starred on the field at Auburn. His bio states: "From 2007-10, Burns earned four varsity letters at Auburn, excelling in a variety of roles. He was a quarterback his first two seasons at Auburn; in 2007, he became the first Auburn true freshman quarterback to start a game since Gabe Gross in 1998. He moved to wide receiver for the second half of his career, collecting nearly 2,300 total yards and 22 career touchdowns. "