Georgia Bulldogs

Big Picture: Alabama DC Smart being strongly considered for UGA head coach, source says

Published Nov. 29, 2015 1:39 p.m. ET

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Bruce Feldman

As FOX Sports first reported Wednesday morning, Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart is the front-runner for the South Carolina vacancy, but a potential snag has surfaced for the Gamecocks. The coaching job at Georgia, Smart's alma mater, came open Sunday morning, which didn't come as a surprise to many close to the Bulldogs program.

Mark Richt had been on the hot seat for the past month with legitimate pressure from key power brokers at UGA since, and the potential vacancy intrigues Smart. A Georgia source told FOX Sports that Smart is getting strong consideration to replace Richt. 

The 39-year-old Smart was the 2012 AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year and the 2009 Broyles Award winner as college football's top assistant coach. His defense is No. 1 in the nation in yards per play; No. 2 in run defense and No. 3 in total defense.

If Smart leaves Alabama, Tide secondary coach Mel Tucker, would likely replace him as the 'Bama DC.

RANDOM STUFF

● Kirby Smart isn’t the only SEC defensive coordinator who figures to have good options. Mizzou’s Barry Odom, a former standout linebacker for the Tigers, is getting consideration for the coaching vacancy at his alma mater, according to sources. He’s also a strong candidate to replace Justin Fuente at Memphis, where he used to run the defense. Also in the mix for Mizzou is Temple coach Matt Rhule.

● On Sunday afternoon there were multiple reports that Bowling Green’s Dino Babers had agreed to the UCF coaching job. Two sources told FOX Sports that those reports are “not true."

● I spent a few days in Austin, Texas, in preparation for my sideline assignment on Thanksgiving night for the Texas Tech-Texas game on FS1. Tech beat UT in Austin for the first time in 18 years and the loss assured Texas (4-7) of a losing season. However, there are plenty of reasons for optimism inside the Longhorns football program. The biggest: UT is starting six true freshmen — twice as many as anyone else in the Big 12. One of those six, who had his breakout performance against the Red Raiders, is bruising 235-pound RB Chris Warren. He ran for 276 yards and four TDs while averaging 11 yards per carry. It was an awesome showing. It was even more remarkable if you’d seen how banged up UT was that night with players seemingly going down and ending up on the training table on their sideline every other play. In all, Texas lost five starters that night — starting QB Jerrod Heard (a redshirt freshman), two defensive tackles and two linebackers. 

One of those linebackers was the headliner of Charlie Strong’s stellar freshman class, Malik Jefferson. He made two terrific plays before going down with an ankle injury. The day before the game UT coaches gushed about Jefferson. Not just his athleticism but also his maturity and how much he’s grown in every single game.

I asked Strong about who he felt like his leaders were going to be as he continues a big rebuilding job. “He will be That Guy,” Strong said, before offering some very lofty praise in football speak. “Malik is a Dude."

UT’s other gem in this rookie class is actually a former three-star recruit, Connor Williams, a one-time tight end primed to be a star left tackle. He’s started the entire year for Texas. Veteran O-line coach Joe Wickline calls the 6-foot-5, 283-pounder “a throwback” who also has rare physical talent.

"His flexibility and change of direction is excellent,” said Wickline. "He’s quick-twitch. He’s also really sharp. His understanding from a schematic standpoint is beyond his years. He has a big upside.”

Williams, who arrived at UT last winter, is pretty sharp off the field too. He told me he needed to maintain a 3.5 GPA to get accepted into the McCombs School of Business. He’s carrying a 3.67. The other stud freshman O-lineman is guard Patrick Vahe, who was sidelined for the Tech game, but had the Red Raiders coaches very impressed with what they’d seen on film. These two are a good bet to snap UT’s mind-boggling drought of not having an O-lineman drafted since Tony Hills in 2008. 

● Stat of the Day, Take II: Memphis QB Paxton Lynch threw for as many TD passes in the first half against SMU (seven) as New Mexico & Ga. Southern have thrown combined THIS SEASON.

● Stat of the Day, Take III: Navy QB Keenan Reynolds has had a fantastic career and been especially sharp in 2015. Navy is No. 12 in fewest lost fumbles. That’s pretty remarkable when you consider all of the pitching and ball-handling required with its offense. A year earlier, Navy ranked No. 126 in the nation with 17 fumbles lost.

Bruce Feldman is a senior college football reporter and columnist for FOXSports.com and FS1. He is also a New York Times best-selling author. His new book, “The QB: The Making of Modern Quarterbacks,” came out in October 2014. Follow him on Twitter @BruceFeldmanCFB and Facebook.

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