Report: Montario Hardesty to join Pruitt’s staff at Tennessee

While Jeremy Pruitt’s on the field staff was finalized last week with the hire of former Memphis wide receiver coach David Johnson, it’s appears Pruitt has made another hire-this time with a familiar face in Knoxville.

Former Tennessee running back Montario Hardesty, who spent the 2017 season on Lane Kiffin’s staff at Florida Atlantic, is set to join Jeremy Pruitt’s staff as a quality control coach on offense at his alma mater, according to a report from 247 Sports.

Hardesty came to Tennessee in 2005, but spent most of his career dealing with injuries before finally having his breakout out season under Kiffin in 2009. That season, he rushed for 1,647 yards and 14 touchdowns in a 7-6 campaign.

Hardesty was picked up by the Cleveland Browns in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft, but again struggled with injuries at the professional level, leaving the league officially after the 2013 season.

Hardesty got his start in coaching at Norfolk State, joining that staff in 2015 as a special teams coordinator. He spent two seasons there before heading to Boca Raton to coach under Kiffin.