Kurt Roper is expected to be named Tennessee's running backs coach, a source within the program told the News Sentinel.

Roper's hiring will be announced later this week and UT coach Trooper Taylor will be named wide receivers coach, barring any last-minute setbacks, the source said.

Roper coached quarterbacks at Kentucky last year. He was a graduate assistant at UT from 1996 to 1998 and specialized in defense and special teams.

Roper was the quarterbacks' coach at Ole Miss 1998-2001 before being elevated to passing-game coordinator 2002-2004 under David Cutcliffe. Cutcliffe was hired as UT's offensive coordinator last month.

Taylor has been UT's running backs coach since being hired away from Tulane in January 2004. Taylor, however, has coached wide receivers for the majority of his career.

Roper's hiring is the last move in an off-season full of transition for UT's offensive staff.

Wide receivers coach Pat Washington and offensive line coach Jimmy Ray Stephens were fired following the Kentucky game to end in the Vols' 5-6 season.

Stephens was replaced by assistant offensive line and tight ends coach Greg Adkins. Former Ole Miss assistant coach Matt Luke was hired to fill Adkins' vacancy.

Georgia Tech running backs coach Curtis Modkins was a finalist for the remaining vacancy.

Kippy Brown, a former UT and Houston Texans assistant coach, and Ron Middleton of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were offered the job, but declined.

UT head coach Phillip Fulmer said Tuesday night that the vacancy was close to being filled during an unrelated press conference.

The stability comes at a good time for the Vols' recruiting efforts. UT is expecting approximately 15 prospects in this weekend. National signing day is Feb. 1.