Chop Harbin

Biography

Chop Harbin joins Eli Drinkwitz staff at Mizzou as the Tigers defensive line coach spent after five seasons at Tennessee, including the 2025 campaign as the outside linebackers coach. Harbin, nicknamed “Chop,” joined the UT staff in 2021 as a defensive analyst before being promoted to senior defensive analyst in 2022. Harbin served in the analyst role for four seasons and was promoted again in February 2025 to outside linebackers coach. He was a fixture with the defensive line and LEO position. Harbin played a significant role in the development of the edge rushers during the Volunteers’ 2024 College Football Playoff season. The disruptive group paved the way for a Tennessee defense that ranked in the FBS top 10 in six different categories, including fourth-down conversion defense (third – 31.8), yards per play allowed (fifth – 4.56), third-down conversion defense (sixth – 30.3), total defense (sixth – 293.2), scoring defense (seventh – 16.1) and tackles for loss (eighth – 7.7). The edge rushers made their presence known in meaningful victories over rivals Florida and Alabama as the Vols racked up a combined six sacks, 21 tackles for loss and three interceptions in those contests. Edge rushers James Pearce Jr. and Joshua Josephs led the team in tackles for loss with 13 and nine, respectively. Pearce Jr. also ranked 10th in the SEC in sacks with 7.5, while ranking second in the SEC and 12th in the FBS in total pressures with 55 according to Pro Football Focus. Harbin’s protégé