Brian Niedermeyer

Title:
Inside Linebackers

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Brian Niedermeyer enters his third season at Tennessee and his first fall as the inside linebackers coach in 2020.

Niedermeyer coached tight ends the past two seasons and was named the National Recruiter of the Year by 247Sports and ESPN in 2019. He previously was a defensive graduate assistant working with linebackers under head coach Jeremy Pruitt at Georgia and Alabama, and he worked with linebackers at Miami (Fla.) in 2013.

One of the coaching professions up-and-coming stars, Niedermeyer is also an accomplished fundamental coach on both sides of the ball. A former collegiate tight end, he has helped develop 32 NFL Draft picks. Niedermeyer served as the assistant director of recruiting operations with the Crimson Tide in 2017 after his role as a defensive graduate assistant in 2016.

He broke into the SEC as a graduate assistant at Georgia in 2015. A native of Eagle River, Alaska, he was the wide receivers coach at East Texas Baptist University in 2014 and also worked on the staffs at Miami (Fla.) and Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Niedermeyer played tight end at UAPB.

THE NIEDERMEYER FILE

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Born: December 28, 1988
Hometown: Eagle River, Alaska
Education: Bachelor’s (University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, 2012)
Playing Experience: Arkansas at Pine Bluff (2011-13)

COACHING HISTORY

2012: Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Student Assistant
2013: Miami (Fla.), Volunteer Analyst
2014: East Texas Baptist University, Wide Receivers
2015: Georgia, Graduate Assistant
2016: Alabama, Graduate Assistant
2017: Alabama, Asst. Director of Recruiting Operations
2018-19: Tennessee, Tight Ends
2020-present: Tennessee, Inside Linebackers

Tennessee (2018-Present)
Niedermeyer was named National Recruiter of the Year in 2019 by 247Sports and ESPN, joining Pruitt and Tee Martin as the third coach on Tennessee’s staff to win the award.

Thanks in large part to the tight end room, Tennessee’s offense improved in total offense, passing yards, rushing, scoring offense, third down conversions and turnover margin in 2019.

Dominick Wood-Anderson participated in the 2020 East-West Shirne Game after totaling 37 catches for 406 yards and three touchdowns in 2018 and 2019 under Niedermeyer. Wood-Anderson signed a free agent contract with the Seattle Seahawks in April 2020.

Wood-Anderson joined redshirt junior Austin Pope to give the Vols an experienced tight end duo in 2019. The unit provided a reliable outlet for Tennessee’s passers and paved the way for the ground game as effective blockers.

The Vols finished 8-5 and 5-3 in the SEC in 2019, capping the season with a six-game win streak and a 23-22 victory over Indiana in the 2020 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl.

Alabama (2016-17)
Niedermeyer served as the assistant director of recruiting operations with the Crimson Tide in 2017, facilitating the day-to-day operations and recruiting efforts for student-athletes as well as on-campus recruiting events.

In 2016, Niedermeyer was a defensive graduate assistant, specializing in linebackers under Pruitt, Alabama’s defensive coordinator.

Led by linebackers Reuben Foster, Tim Williams and Ryan Anderson, the Tide led the nation in scoring defense (13.0 ppg) and rushing defense (63.9 ypg), while ranking second in total defense (261.8 ypg). Alabama finished 14-1, winning the SEC Championship and the Sugar Bowl before falling to Clemson in the College Football Playoff Championship Game.

Foster collected consensus All-America honors and won the Butkus Award after totaling 115 tackles, 13 TFLs and five sacks. Williams was a second-team All-American after tallying nine sacks, while Anderson nabbed first-team All-SEC honors and led the Crimson Tide with 19 TFLs. The trio moved onto the NFL after the season. Foster was selected by the San Francisco 49ers with the No. 31 pick in the first round, Anderson was picked No. 49 overall in the second round by the Washington Redskins and the Baltimore Ravens chose Williams in the third round.

Georgia (2015)
Niedermeyer got his first taste of the Southeastern Conference by working with Pruitt as a defensive graduate assistant at Georgia in 2015.

The Bulldogs led the nation in pass defense in 2015 (156.5 ypg), while ranking No. 7 in total defense (305.9 ypg) and No. 8 in scoring defense (16.9 ppg).

Working primarily with linebackers, Niedermeyer helped coach All-SEC linebacker Leonard Floyd and Senior Bowl invitees Jake Ganus and Jordan Jenkins. He also helped develop future SEC Defensive Player of the Year Roquan Smith, who was a true freshman at the time, and future two-year starter Davin Bellamy.

Ganus led the Bulldogs with 101 tackles. Floyd ranked second with 72 stops to go along with 8.5 TFLs. Jenkins finished with 58 tackles and 9.5 TFLs.

Floyd was selected with the No. 9 overall pick in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears, while Jenkins went in the third round to the New York Jets. Ganus signed with the Minnesota Vikings.

East Texas Baptist University (2014)
Niedermeyer coached wide receivers for one season at East Texas Baptist University, helping guide the No. 1 passing offense in NCAA Division III in 2014.

The Tigers led the nation in passing (368.1 ypg) and ranked second in total offense (566.1 ypg). ETBU averaged 42.3 points per game (No. 11 in the nation).

Niedermeyer coached a pair of All-Americans and 1,000-yard receivers in Tyler Bates (84 receptions, 1,156 yards, 11 touchdowns) and Stephen Alford (59 receptions, 1,210 yards, 12 touchdowns).

Miami (2013)
In 2013, Niedermeyer worked as a volunteer analyst at Miami (Fla.), assisting linebackers coach Michael Barrow.

The Hurricanes finished 9-4 and were led by linebacker Denzel Perryman, who finished with 108 tackles and collected All-ACC First Team and All-America honorable mention honors.

University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (2012)
Niedermeyer started his coaching career at his alma mater, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, as a defensive student coach in 2012. The Golden Lions finished 10-2 and won the SWAC Championship.

Background
Niedermeyer played tight end for two years at UAPB after beginning his collegiate career at Glendale Community College and Butte Junior College.

Niedermeyer was all-state in football and basketball in high school at Chugiak High School in Eagle River, Alaska.

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS (1)
2017 – Alabama (Assistant Director of Recruiting Operations)

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS (2)
2016 SEC – Alabama (Defensive Graduate Assistant)
2012 SWAC – Arkansas Pine-Bluff (Defensive Student Assistant)

BOWL GAMES COACHED IN (7)
2020 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl – Tennessee
2018 CFP National Championship Game – Alabama
2018 CFP National Semifinal Sugar Bowl – Alabama
2017 CFP National Championship Game – Alabama
2016 CFP National Semifinal Peach Bowl – Alabama
2016 TaxSlayer Bowl – Georgia
2013 Russell Athletic Bowl – Miami

NFL DRAFT PICKS HELPED DEVELOP (32, 11 first round)
S Xavier McKinney (RD 2) – Alabama ’20 – New York Giants
DT Raekwon Davis (RD 2) – Alabama ’20 – Miami Dolphins
LB Terrell Lewis (RD 3) – Alabama ’20 – Los Angeles Rams
LB Anfernee Jennings (RD 3) – Alabama ’20 – New England Patriots
DT Quinnen Williams (RD 1) – Alabama ‘19 – New York Jets
DB Deandre Baker (RD 1) – Georgia ‘19 – New York Giants
DB Johnathan Abram (RD 1) – Georgia ‘19 – Oakland Raiders
LB Christian Miller (RD 4) – Alabama ‘19 – Carolina Panthers
DB Deionte Thompson (RD 5) – Alabama ‘19 – Arizona Cardinals
LB Mack Wilson (RD 5) – Alabama ‘19 – Cleveland Browns
LB D'Andre Walker (RD 5) – Georgia ‘19 – Tennessee Titans
DT Isaiah Buggs (RD 6) – Alabama '19 – Pittsburgh Steelers
LB Roquan Smith (RD 1) – Georgia ‘18 – Chicago Bears
DB Minkah Fitzpatrick (RD 1) – Alabama ‘18 – Miami Dolphins
DT Da’Ron Payne (RD 1) – Alabama ‘18 – Washington Redskins
LB Rashaan Evans (RD 1) – Alabama ‘18 – Tennessee Titans
LB Lorenzo Carter (RD 3) – Georgia ‘18 – New York Giants
DB Ronnie Harrison (RD 3) – Alabama ‘18 – Jacksonville Jaguars
DL Da’Shawn Hand (RD 4) – Alabama ‘18 – Detroit Lions
DB Anthony Averett (RD 4) – Alabama ‘18 – Baltimore Ravens
LB Shaun Dion Hamilton (RD 6) – Alabama ‘18 – Washington Redskins
DT Joshua Frazier (RD 7) – Alabama ‘18 – Pittsburgh Steelers
DB Marlon Humphrey (RD 1) – Alabama ‘17 – Baltimore Ravens
DE Jonathan Allen (RD 1) – Alabama ‘17 – Washington Redskins
LB Reuben Foster (RD 1) – Alabama ‘17 – San Francisco 49ers
LB Ryan Anderson (RD 2) – Alabama ‘17 – Washington Redskins
DB Dalvin Tomlinson (RD 2) – Alabama ‘17 – New York Giants
LB Tim Williams (RD 3) – Alabama ‘17 – Baltimore Ravens
DB Eddie Jackson (RD 4) – Alabama ‘17 – Chicago Bears
LB Leonard Floyd (RD 1) – Georgia ‘16 – Chicago Bears
LB Jordan Jenkins (RD 3) – Georgia ‘16 – New York Jets
LB Denzel Perryman (RD 2) – Miami ‘15 – San Diego Chargers

ALL-AMERICANS COACHED (8)
DE Jonathan Allen – Alabama – 2016 First Team
DB Minkah Fitzpatrick – Alabama – 2016 First Team
LB Reuben Foster – Alabama – 2016 First Team
DB Marlon Humphrey – Alabama – 2016 First Team
WR Stephen Alfred – East Texas Baptist -- 2014 USA Football Network
WR Tyler Bates – East Texas Baptist – 2014 USA Football Network
LB Denzel Perryman – Miami – 2013 Honorable Mention
LB Jer-ryan Harris – Arkansas-Pine Bluff – 2013 SBN Sports Black College, HSRN

NATIONAL AWARD WINNERS COACHED (2)
DE Jonathan Allen – Alabama -- 2016 College Defensive Player of the Year, Ted Hendricks Award, Lombardi Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy
LB Reuben Foster – Alabama – 2016 Butkus Award