If Jim Harbaugh leaves Michigan for NFL, Sherrone Moore is top candidate to replace
Michigan may already have a succession plan.
“The next best option (if Harbaugh signs an NFL contract) for preserving the culture is hiring Harbaugh’s no. 1 assistant, and that’s Sherrone Moore,” Webb said. “Sherrone has been at Michigan six years, and in that time worked his way up from tight ends coach, to offensive line coach, to coordinator. He coached a unit that won the Joe Moore award two years in a row. He was the guy under fire at the end of the season, and not just as a stand in.
“He had to make battlefield decisions on the road against Penn State when his offense couldn’t block the Nittany Lions’ pass rush, and he changed the game plan on the fly in a winning way. Then, two weeks later, he made aggressive, game-winning decisions against Ohio State.”
Chris Hummer recently profiled Moore ahead of the College Football Playoff national championship and spoke with various coaching sources and players on his rise within the industry.
“We saw some high-level football thinking from him, from like a chess match standpoint,” Michigan first-team All-Big Ten left tackle LaDarius Henderson told 247Sports about Moore’s role in the Wolverines’ win over Penn State this season. “Not just the play calling but the acting involved with the play was so deep. I was like, ‘This guy might be the smartest college football coach.’”
Moore held various roles at Michigan and excelled in all of them, eventually leading to his sparkling showing as interim head coach this season during Harbaugh’s absence. Not only did Moore help Michigan beat Penn State without Harbaugh, but the Wolverines managed to avoid an upset against Maryland on the road and took out previously-unbeaten Ohio State to clinch another berth in the Big Ten title game with him leading the charge.
“I think Michigan’s administration saw enough to say while they’ll do a search and talk to national people, their respect for the job that Sherrone has done and their belief that he can carry on Jim Harbaugh’s culture makes him the overwhelming favorite to become Michigan’s next coach if Harbaugh goes to the NFL,” Webb said.
RELATED: The case for Moore as a head-coaching candidate
The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman suggested that Moore’s situation mirrors similar coordinator-to-leading roles moves in recent years, including Ohio State’s Urban Meyer to Ryan Day plan.
With Harbaugh reportedly set to have his second interview with the Atlanta Falcons this week amid continued contract discussions with the Wolverines, it’s clear the program needs a succession plan if it’s facing a coaching search very soon. The Michigan Insider reports Harbaugh’s upcoming second meeting with Arthur Blank and the Falcons is a significant development considering previous conversations with the Los Angeles Chargers and the likelihood the NFC franchise could provide a higher salary than other options.
Webb said this week on CBS Sports HQ that the threat level Harbaugh leaves Michigan for the NFL is “greater” this offseason than it was last year. Salary implications and contract verbiage are major factors in Harbaugh’s pending decision, Webb said, along with NFL front office and managerial scenarios he may find appealing.
Harbaugh hasn’t ruled out a long-term extension at Michigan if certain expectations despite his interviews last week with the Chargers and Falcons, Yahoo Sports reports. Specifically, Yahoo Sports reports that Harbaugh wants immunity from termination if there’s any blowback regarding multiple NCAA investigations into Michigan football and a decreased buyout should he decide to leave for an NFL opportunity in the future.
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The fact Harbaugh is still in talks about an extension backs up what Michigan director of athletics Warde Manuel assured Wolverines fans for weeks regarding his efforts to keep the national championship-winning coach around for 2024 and beyond.
Alabama transfer QB Julian Sayin commits to Ohio State; HS coach Thadd MacNeal explains 5-star’s decision
Sayin is on campus now in Columbus and will be ready to compete when spring ball rolls around.
Former Carlsbad (Calif.) quarterback and Alabama transfer Julian Sayin has committed to Ohio State. Sayin signed with the Tide during the early period and early enrolled as well. He was able to part in bowl prep and worked out with the team leading up to the Rose Bowl Game.
Nick Saban retired earlier in the month and former Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer was hired just a few days later. Sayin met with the new Husky staff and contemplated staying through spring ball but decided to jump into the transfer portal.
“He signed to play for Nick Saban,” Carlsbad head coach Thadd MacNeal said. “He had a great relationship with coach Saban and Tommy Rees. Those were his guys and the ones he had a relationship with.
“When the new staff came in — it was nothing against them but he didn’t know them at all. He knew (offensive coordinator Ryan) Grubb a little and he did offer him at Washington but there was no relationship with him or DeBoer and Julian just felt like it was best for him to move on.”
At the time of his commitment to Alabama, Ohio State was high on Sayin’s list.
“They were actually No. 2 for him,” MacNeal said. “They were actually a close second and he visited at least two times that I know of. He loved Ryan Day and the offense and how quarterback friendly he is.
“Ohio State has done a great job developing quarterbacks there and Julian really likes (co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach (Brian) Hartline, too. He was involved recruiting Julian and they always have a great WR room at Ohio State and that’s obviously a huge deal if you’re a quarterback.”
Sayin also has a connection with new Buckeyes OC Bill O’Brien.
“O’Brien actually offered Julian when he was at Bama,” MacNeal said. “He loved him and he built a good relationship with him before he moved on.
“He has been on our campus here and he’s someone Julian knows and is excited to learn from. He has that NFL background and Julian really clicked well with him from a football standpoint.”
The Buckeyes winning tradition also played a role for Sayin.
“He wants to compete for a national championship,” MacNeal said. “There’s only a few schools built that way, and Ohio State is obviously one. They have a great winning tradition and have a great chance to make the (College Football) Playoff every year for the foreseeable future.
“They’re bringing in a great class and Julian knows a lot of the players there, including Jeremiah Smith, who’s a very special talent. He’s really excited and this is a great opportunity for him.”
Sayin is already on campus and will be ready to compete when spring ball kicks off.
“He’s there now and moving in,” MacNeal said. “I believe they start classes in a few weeks. So, right now, Julian just wants to get acclimated, dig in to the playbook and be ready to go.
“There were no promises about immediate playing time, but Julian is not afraid to compete with anyone. He knows they have a strong QB room in place but his goal is to come in and be ready to play and I definitely think he’s ready for that as well.”
D.J. Durkin emerges as target in Auburn defensive coordinator search
Auburn could have its new defensive coordinator soon.
The Auburn defensive coordinator search could be nearing an end with former Texas A&M assistant D.J. Durkin emerging as a target, Matt Zenitz reports. Durkin spent the past two seasons on the Aggies staff and also served as the linebackers coach in addition to his role as defensive coordinator.
The defensive coordinator position at Auburn opened in early January after Ron Roberts departed for a similar position at Florida. Roberts spent just one season with the Tigers under head coach Hugh Freeze. As a result of that move, Auburn announced the return of former Tigers football player and veteran coach Charles Kelly as a co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach for the 2024 season.
Auburn had a solid season on the defensive side of the football in 2023, finishing seventh in the SEC in scoring defense and sixth in opposing quarterback rating. However, the run defense struggled with consistency, allowing the fourth-most yards per carry in the conference.
Durkin, 45, has previous coaching experience in the SEC at Ole Miss (2020-21) and Florida (2010-14). Durkin was the head coach at Maryland for two seasons (2016-17). He was placed on administrative leave after the death of Terrapins offensive lineman Jordan McNair and was later fired amid backlash of a return to the program.
Durkin has prior successful stints as a defensive coordinator at Michigan (2015) and Florida. He also held positions at Bowling Green (2005-06) and Stanford (2007-09).
During his first season at Texas A&M, Durkin led a defense that ranked first nationally in fewest passing yards per per game (156.2) and held opponents to less than 150 yards passing in six games, including three with less than 100 yards. The Aggies ranked 17th nationally and fourth in the SEC in passing defensive efficiency (117.1). Texas A&M ranked 22nd in points allowed per game (20.7) during the 2022 season.
Texas A&M ranked 36th nationally in scoring defense (22.1) in 2023. The Aggies held opponents to 108.77 yards rushing per game, which ranked 14th-fewest in the FBS. They took a slight step backwards in pass defense, but still held opponents to 207.4 yards per game through the air.
Auburn recently filled its vacant offensive coordinator position, hiring longtime Ole Miss assistant Derrick Nix last week. Freeze enters his second year in charge of the Tigers with new coordinators on both sides of the ball.
“I don’t know that I ever feel like I took over a program and I got every single hire in the whole building right the first time,” Freeze said in December before Auburn’s bowl game, when asked about his staff, “Because you’re just so crazy with recruiting. So I think there’s always the evaluation from our chair of can we improve ourselves some way.
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