Chad Morris
Offensive coordinator of the Clemson Tigers0-045
Landon's First Take: Morris has been a popular name thrown around on the market, and he's become one of the best offensive coordinators in the country in his fourth year on the job. The likelihood still points to Florida finding a proven head coach rather than going the coordinator route again.
Farrell's Recruiting Rating: (9) "Would do a great job recruiting in Florida."
The Bottom Line: He is known as an up-and-coming offensive mastermind, but his offense hasn't looked all that great this year. Plus, with the last two hires of coordinators with no head coaching experience failing miserably, would Jeremy Foley be willing to go that route again?
Dan Mullen
Head coach of the Mississippi State Bulldogs44-2942
Landon's First Take: Mullen, Urban Meyer's offensive coordinator for the majority of his tenure at Florida, has developed the likes of Tim Tebow and now Dak Prescott into elite college quarterbacks. He would be a safe pick-up for the Gators. Still, Mississippi State could get into a bidding war with Florida for his services. With the Bulldogs having a huge year, MSU may give it their all to keep Mullen in Starkville for the long term.
Farrell's Recruiting Rating: (7) "Not a dynamic recruiter, but a guy who molds talent."
The Bottom Line: On the surface his overall record doesn't look like much, but keep in mind he is doing this while at MSU, arguably no better than perhaps the 13th best program in the SEC. If he is brought back, how closely does he follow the Urban Meyer game plan on and off the field? That can be both a good and bad thing.
Gary Patterson
Head coach of the TCU Horned Frogs128-450-054
Landon's First Take: His track record speaks for itself. Since Patterson took over the Horned Frogs in 2000, he's led his group to eight seasons of 10-plus wins and has experienced only one losing season when TCU went 4-8 in 2013. Now, TCU is back on the right track with a current record of 6-1. Regardless, it would be very hard for Florida to lure the accustomed Patterson from Fort Worth.
Farrell's Recruiting Rating: (7) "Would be big step up for him, but he does great job of evals."
The Bottom Line: He has no experience whatsoever in either the Southeastern Conference, or even the southeast in general. Because of the success he has enjoyed at TCU he has been mentioned with several job openings over the years, but has never jumped ship. It just doesn't feel like a fit.
Rich Rodriguez
Head coach of the Arizona Wildcats99-6051
Landon's First Take: After an unsuccessful stint at Michigan, Rodriguez has rebuilt this Arizona program into a top-15 team in only his third year on the job. He's an offensive guru, and Florida fans have been clamoring for more offense throughout the Will Muschamp era. There are better options out there, but Rodriguez certainly isn't the worst one available.
Farrell's Recruiting Rating: (8) "Can recruit and coach and scheme would be fun to watch."
The Bottom Line: His star was on the rise after his stints as offensive coordinator at Tulane and Clemson and then as head coach at West Virginia. However, his star dimmed somewhat after taking the job as Michigan's head coach. He has revived his career out in the desert, but his Pac-12 Conference record is a bit of a concern. Overall though, other than Mullen, his resume best fits the bill.
Bob Stoops
Head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners167-4254
Landon's First Take: Stoops, the Gators' defensive coordinator in 1996-98, could want to rejoin his former school, and coaching against his younger brother Mark on an annual basis is a fun idea to toss around. Still, Stoops is in his 16th season in Norman and has grown pretty comfortable there. This one's a long shot.
Farrell's Recruiting Rating: (10) "Would recruit like a rock star at Florida."
The Bottom Line: Yes his name will come up with the Florida job opening, it always does, but is he really a legitimate candidate? In the past he has leveraged outside interest from other programs as a way to secure a raise. Now, you have his brother Mark Stoops at Kentucky, does he really want to compete against a family member, especially one trying to establish himself, each year in the East? Probably not.
Offensive coordinator of the Clemson Tigers0-045
Farrell's Recruiting Rating: (9) "Would do a great job recruiting in Florida."
The Bottom Line: He is known as an up-and-coming offensive mastermind, but his offense hasn't looked all that great this year. Plus, with the last two hires of coordinators with no head coaching experience failing miserably, would Jeremy Foley be willing to go that route again?
Dan Mullen
Head coach of the Mississippi State Bulldogs44-2942
Farrell's Recruiting Rating: (7) "Not a dynamic recruiter, but a guy who molds talent."
The Bottom Line: On the surface his overall record doesn't look like much, but keep in mind he is doing this while at MSU, arguably no better than perhaps the 13th best program in the SEC. If he is brought back, how closely does he follow the Urban Meyer game plan on and off the field? That can be both a good and bad thing.
Gary Patterson
Head coach of the TCU Horned Frogs128-450-054
Farrell's Recruiting Rating: (7) "Would be big step up for him, but he does great job of evals."
The Bottom Line: He has no experience whatsoever in either the Southeastern Conference, or even the southeast in general. Because of the success he has enjoyed at TCU he has been mentioned with several job openings over the years, but has never jumped ship. It just doesn't feel like a fit.
Rich Rodriguez
Head coach of the Arizona Wildcats99-6051
Farrell's Recruiting Rating: (8) "Can recruit and coach and scheme would be fun to watch."
The Bottom Line: His star was on the rise after his stints as offensive coordinator at Tulane and Clemson and then as head coach at West Virginia. However, his star dimmed somewhat after taking the job as Michigan's head coach. He has revived his career out in the desert, but his Pac-12 Conference record is a bit of a concern. Overall though, other than Mullen, his resume best fits the bill.
Bob Stoops
Head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners167-4254
Farrell's Recruiting Rating: (10) "Would recruit like a rock star at Florida."
The Bottom Line: Yes his name will come up with the Florida job opening, it always does, but is he really a legitimate candidate? In the past he has leveraged outside interest from other programs as a way to secure a raise. Now, you have his brother Mark Stoops at Kentucky, does he really want to compete against a family member, especially one trying to establish himself, each year in the East? Probably not.
:sarc:
