Locksley among candidates to replace Tennessee's Fulmer

"I grew up with Phillip, he's a great man, great coach. I don't know all the numbers, but he's won an awful lot of games (at Tennessee)," Zook said. "You hate it, but it is what it is."

The Tennessee connection doesn't stop there, however. Mike Locksley, the Illini's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, is considered a possible candidate to replace Fulmer at Tennessee and is also a possible replacement for Syracuse coach Greg Robinson, whose firing has been long rumored. Locksley has been a part of Zook's staff at Illinois and Florida since 2003.

Zook said that Locksley's departure for a head-coaching job of his own is only a matter of time.

dailyillini.com