Drew Edwards, KNS--

Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin will be Tennessee’s next defensive coordinator, ESPN NFL analyst Chris Mortensen reported Sunday, citing multiple unnamed sources.

Kiffin, 68, will join UT after Tampa’s season is finished, the report said.

Kiffin has been with the Buccaneers since 1995 and is the NFL's highest paid defensive coordinator, reportedly earning more than $2 million a year. John Chavis earned $340,000 this season to coach Tennessee's defense and linebackers. UT paid its nine on-field assistant coaches a combined $1.935 million this season.

Kiffin's son, Lane, is expected to be introduced as Tennessee's next head coach sometime Monday.

More updates throughout the day on GoVolsXtra.com and in tomorrow’s News Sentinel.

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Drew Edwards, KNS--

Tennessee's new coaching staff is starting to take shape.

South Carolina quarterbacks coach and recruiting coordinator David Reaves is expected to join Lane Kiffin at Tennessee, according to the Charleston (S.C.) Post and Courier.

Reaves, who is Kiffin's brother-in-law, will meet with South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier within the next 24 hours.

Tennessee is expected to introduce Kiffin as its new coach possibly by Monday.

According to the Post and Courier, the 29-year-old Reaves would likely become UT's quarterbacks coach.

Reaves, who was a three-year starter at quarterback and team captain at Appalachian State, has been with the Gamecocks full-time since 2004.

In 2005 and 2006, Reaves assisted Spurrier in coaching quarterbacks before taking over the quarterbacks full-time in spring of 2007.

Reaves was named Carolina's recruiting coordinator in February 2006 and helped the Gamecocks reel in a top-10 national recruiting class in 2007.

Reaves, who spent the 2003 season as assistant head coach at Tampa (Fla.) Catholic High School, also has been named one of Rivals.com's top 25 recruiters.

Since UT announced Nov. 3 that Phillip Fulmer would not return, South Carolina has put itself in good position with a pair of players who previously committed to Tennessee.

Safety D.J. Swearinger from Greenwood (S.C.) High has since committed to the Gamecocks, while South Carolina is a strong player for highly touted tailback Jarvis Giles from Gaither High in Tampa.

Reaves was a graduate assistant at Carolina from 2002-03 before assisting with defensive backs in 2004.

Reaves' father, John Reaves, was an All-American quarterback at Florida and coached with Spurrier at Florida (1990-92, 1994) and also coached at South Carolina (1996-97).

McNeil Decision: Junior center Josh McNeil said he'll apply to the NFL Draft Advisory Board for a prediction as to where he'll be drafted. McNeil said a second- or third-round grade would likely prompt him to forgo his senior season.

"As of right now, I'm planning on coming back," McNeil said.

McNeil said the coaching change won't play a major role in his decision.

"It's not a huge factor because you've got to make the best decision for you and your family," McNeil said.

Chief Talk: Defensive coordinator John Chavis said he would only accept a coaching job in which he could compete for championships.

"I may never coach football again and if that's the case, then I'm fine with that," he said.

Chavis said he'd like to coach again and will still strive to be a head coach.

"I'm not going to be in any hurry to take a job," he said.

Chavis said he's already received several inquires, including calls from the NFL.

"I really don't know who's really serious; we'll find out," he said. "I think the NFL in a lot of ways could help me jumpstart my career again."

Warren Report: A 6-yard reception in the first quarter against Kentucky was tight end Brandon Warren's first catch since Nov. 1 when he had one reception for three yards against South Carolina.

Warren, who transferred from Florida State after a freshman All-American season in 2006, caught 10 passes for 85 yards this season.

Warren had five games this season without a catch and never caught more than two passes in a game.

Arian's Ascension: Senior tailback Arian Foster's 59 yards against Kentucky gives him 2,964 for his career. That leaves Foster as the second-leading rusher in UT history, 114 yards shy of Travis Henry's school record of 3,078.

Sparse Salute: The crowd for Fulmer's last game was probably the smallest of his UT tenure. Estimates from the press box put the crowd at 65,000. The announced attendance was 102,388 but that is based on tickets sold, not actual attendance.

Sweet Home?: After finishing a perfect 7-0 last season in Neyland Stadium, UT salvaged a winning record at home this season.

With Saturday's win, UT improved to 4-3 this season at home with wins over UAB, Northern Illinois, Mississippi State and Kentucky.

UT lost at home to Alabama, Florida and Wyoming.

Plain Defensive: The Vols only allowed one rush longer than 20 yards all season, a 29 yarder by UAB's Joe Webb on Sept. 13.