For years, Levorn “Chop” Harbin saw something special in four-star EDGE rusher Zach Groves, long before Tennessee’s defensive scheme had a clear role for him. Now, with Harbin stepping into his new position as outside linebackers coach, the early projection he made for Groves has come full circle.
You have to admit—head coach Josh Heupel is hard to predict. He’s not someone who sticks to the script. The way he’s rebuilding Tennessee’s defense for the 2026 season proves just that. With recent additions like the future NFL prospect, Heupel is building something other teams should be paying attention to.
New OLB Coach Levorn Harbin’s Early Vision for Groves Comes Full Circle at Rocky Top
Most of the credit goes to Levorn “Chop” Harbin, who has been a key part of Tennessee football since 2021. He started as a defensive analyst and was quickly promoted to senior defensive analyst in 2022. Recently, Harbin stepped up again as Tennessee’s outside linebackers coach, taking over after Mike Ekeler left for Nebraska.
In this role, he focuses on coaching the outside linebackers, especially those playing the LEO position, which is a unique hybrid between pass rusher and linebacker.
With four-star EDGE rusher Groves now committed to Tennessee, it’s clear that Harbin is excelling in his role.
Interestingly, Harbin had been tracking Groves’ development for years. His early evaluation of Groves as a natural fit for Tennessee’s LEO position proved accurate, as the 6-foot-4, 220-pound EDGE rusher has emerged as one of the top defensive prospects in the 2026 class.
🚨BREAKING🚨 4-star EDGE Zach Groves has committed to Tennessee🍊
More from @AustinPriceless: https://t.co/D3GGAiBZh0 pic.twitter.com/vKYjILVouG
— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) May 21, 2025
On this Wednesday, the former East Robertson High School standout officially committed to the Vols, announcing his decision with excitement. He said, “I really like the coaches and how they treat me and my family. That means a lot. I really see myself fitting in with all coaches and Coach Banks. I like how he controls the defense, and I really think I’ll fit in there.”
Since he had been on Harbin’s radar for years, Coach Chop got special attention from the young talent. Groves added, “Coach Chop called me when I was young, my freshman year, and they brought me up there on a visit… He has shown me what I can do in college for Tennessee, and I can actually see that, and it’s actually nice. I want to see myself doing big things, and I think Tennessee is the right place to do it.”
247Sports Composite ranks Groves as the No. 7 prospect in Tennessee and the No. 25 EDGE rusher in the nation. Several top programs, including Georgia, Clemson, Ole Miss, and USC, fought for his commitment, but the young star ultimately chose Tennessee over these powerhouse schools.
The 6-3, 220-pounder is the Vols’ eighth commitment for the 2026 class and their fourth in-state recruit, joining offensive lineman Gabriel Osenda, wide receiver Tyreek King, and tight end Carson Sneed. His commitment strengthens Tennessee’s defensive recruiting efforts, as they aim to build a top-10 class, and they are already heading in that direction.
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With Groves on board, Tennessee’s 2026 recruiting class now ranks No. 18 nationally, featuring other top prospects like five-star quarterback Faizon Brandon and four-star wide receiver Tyreek King. While Tennessee isn’t in the top 10 class yet, the program is rapidly climbing the rankings and positioning itself for an elite recruiting cycle.
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