Willie Taggart to Florida State? Herm Edwards to Tempe, Arizona? Is Tennessee even close to finding a coach? The fantasy college football experts at Fantrax break down this week’s events in the world of college football.
Coaching Hires
Herm Edwards Accepts Sun Devils Job … But Doesn’t Know He’s a Sun Devil
Whether you like it or not, Herm Edwards has officially taken the head coaching position at Arizona State. This acceptance made headlines as the 63-year-old came out of retirement and then never learned what his team’s mascot is. Edwards will retain Billy Napier and will continue to run a pro-style scheme. And with Manny Wilkins and N’Keal Harry back next season, the pieces are there to succeed. Edwards’ motivational approach will surely succeed in college. My only concern is whether he can recruit.
Texas A&M Has Made Jimbo Fisher a Very Rich Man
Ten years and $75 million … Wow. The Aggies pulled out their wallets and put every dime they had toward hiring Jimbo Fisher this past week. The real beneficiary of this hire is Trayveon Williams. Fisher has produced fantasy running back gold with Dalvin Cook and Devonta Freeman, and Trayveon Williams has already proven his high ceiling. The Aggies made a great hire with Fisher.
Mississippi State Takes a Chance on Joe Moorhead
The Bulldogs’ hiring of Joe Moorhead was possibly the smartest hire they could’ve made. Moorhead took Fordham to three straight FCS Playoffs and was one of the more creative offensive coordinators in the nation while at Penn State. Mississippi State has lower expectations for their coaches than Florida and Tennessee, which makes Starkville the perfect landing spot for Moorhead, who is only going to make quarterback Nick Fitzgerald an even greater player.
Willie Taggart to the ‘Noles
In just one season, Willie Taggart turned the 126th-ranked Oregon defense into a top-40 defense and had a top-three scoring offense in the games he won. Florida State lost quarterback DeAndre Francois in the first game of the season, and that loss really exposed their weakness along the offensive line. The up-tempo RPO that Taggart runs will help that terrible offensive line because most plays they don’t have to block. Cam Akers will be the next great running back under Taggart in a line that includes Marlon Mack, D’Earnest Johnson, and Royce Freeman.
Chad Morris Heads to Fayetteville
I firmly believe that Chad Morris was wanting to go to Texas A&M when he initially took the SMU head coaching job. With Jimbo Fisher headed to TAMU, Morris has now accepted the Arkansas vacancy, and I couldn’t be more excited. Morris’ offense consists of a spread-option attack revolving around the quarterback. Do you know what kind of offense most SEC defenses struggle against? The answer: a spread-option revolving around a mobile quarterback. Whoever Morris puts at quarterback — whether that be a guy he brings in or a guy with the last name Allen — they will put up monster points. Just look back at Matt Davis and Ben Hicks and see how good the Razorbacks can be under Morris.
Scott Frost Is Going Home
Dear Husker Fans, you got your guy. Scott Frost took a team from 0-12 to 12-0 in two seasons, and he’s not done yet. Nebraska is looking for a coach who can contend with the rest of the conference, and a young coaching prospect like Frost is just the man to do it. Frost will return quarterback Tanner Lee and a stable of capable running backs. Mike Riley couldn’t do much with the Manning Academy star, but maybe Frost can.
UCF Hires Mizzou OC Josh Heupel as Next Head Coach
McKenzie Milton is going to throw the ball a lot next season. Simple as that. Drew Lock is now a top-25 leader in single-season passing touchdowns and could easily throw for six more touchdowns in the Tigers’ game against Texas. The Knights are going to have a very pass-heavy offense in 2018, which benefits Milton and will make Tre’Quan Smith a top-five receiver in fantasy next season.
Open Jobs
Tennessee Has Yet to Name a Coach
In the past week, the Vols have lost out on Mike Gundy, Mike Leach, Jeff Brohm, and worst of all, Dave Doeren. John Currie was fired, and Phillip Fulmer has stepped into the AD spot. Fulmer’s current list of candidates includes Jeremy Pruitt of Alabama, Kevin Steele of Auburn, Mel Tucker of Georgia, and Tee Martin of USC. Any direction they go on this list will feature a pro-style power run system similar to Georgia or Alabama.
Which Direction Does Nike Go For Head Coach?
This job is so recently vacated that the list of possible candidates is fairly short. Oregon coordinators Jim Leavitt and Mario Cristobal have been mentioned along with former Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin. With Oregon’s head coach position being vacated so soon, it’s hard to say who they will go with. Whoever takes over will get a first-round prospect quarterback in Justin Herbert and the dynamic duo of Kani Benoit and Tony Brooks-James.
How Does SMU Do Without Chad Morris?
Another recent development is Morris leaving for Arkansas. The upside of SMU players greatly depends on who steps in. Ben Hicks’ value takes a hit with Courtland Sutton leaving for the NFL, but he at least has Trey Quinn and Xavier Jones to assist in the transition. SMU player values are determined by the next man in line at head coach.
Player News
- Quadree Henderson Declares for the NFL Draft (Pitt)
- Shea Patterson Visits With Michigan (Ole Miss)
- Chawntez Moss Plans to Transfer (Pitt)
- KJ Carta-Samuels Will Grad Transfer (Washington)
- Bryce Perkins Commits to Virginia (Arizona Western College)
- Garrett Smith Transfers (ULM)
- Derrius Guice to Play in Bowl Game Before Announcing Draft Decision (LSU)
- Terrence Williams to Transfer (Baylor)