PJ Volker has been a vital part of Navy's back-to-back double-digit win seasons in 2024 and 2025.
He has logged seven seasons at the Naval Academy coaching the linebackers, and now after three seasons calling the defense for the Midshipmen, Volker is reportedly set to make a jump to the NFL.
Jeff Zrebiec shares today that Volker is finalizing a deal to join a longtime friend in the NFL.
Jesse Minter, who was recently tabbed as the replacement for John Harbaugh in Baltimore, is working on landing Volker - his longtime friend and former teammate - to a defensive assistant post with the Ravens.
Minter and Volker have a relationship that spans back to their playing days together at Division III Mount St. Joseph (Cincinnati, OH), where Volker was a rare three-time captain, and two-time All Heartland Conference selection while Minter played receiver for the program.
They would go on to coach together at Indiana State and then Georgia State.
In his first season calling the defense at Navy, Volker's unit tied Penn State for the most shutouts in college football with three, while also finishing among the top 20 nationally in a number of categories.
The past two seasons, Volker's defense has continued to exceed national expectations, including capturing wins over both Air Force and Army to win the Commander-in-Chief's trophy to go alongside a 2024 postseason victory over an SEC opponent in Oklahoma.
Four days ago, at his presser, Minter - who is the only head coach in the AFC North with a defensive background - confirmed that he will serve as the Ravens defensive play caller. He's hired Bears offensive coordinator Declan Doyle as the team's new offensive coordinator, in what will be Doyle's first play calling opportunity. Shawn Flaherty (assistant OL) and Dwayne Ledford (OL) have been added to the offensive staff.
On the defensive side of the ball, Minter has retained inside linebackers coach Tyler Santucci, and landed Notre Dame defensive backs coach Mike Mickens as defensive pass game coordinator / defensive backs coach, as plenty of on-field roles remain to be filled by Minter.
Minter had interviewed Broncos defensive pass game coordinator Jim Leonhard, a former defensive coordinator at the college level at Wisconsin, for his defensive coordinator opening, but Leonhard ultimately decided to take the defensive play calling opportunity with the Bills instead.
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest in coaching news and job opportunities.