With the news breaking Monday that Texas Tech had fired head coach Matt Wells, attention immediately turned to who might be next in line in Lubbock.
The name creating the most buzz thus far has been Jeff Traylor, the 2nd-year head coach at the University of Texas at San Antonio.
Jeff Traylor is the first name that comes to mind for that Texas Tech job. There's going to be a lot of people in Lubbock pushing for him.
— Chris Hummer (@chris_hummer) October 25, 2021
Traylor has UTSA sitting at 8-0 on the season and ranked No. 23 in the AP poll. He is 15-5 in 2 seasons with the Roadrunners.
The 53-year-old came to Texas-San Antonio from the SEC, where he was an associate head coach and running backs coach with Arkansas during the 2018-19 seasons.
But Traylor has deep ties to his home state of Texas.
He began his career as a successful high school coach, racking up a 175-26 record and 3 state titles at Gilmer High School before taking assistant coaching positions at Texas and SMU.
Expect the Traylor to Texas Talk drum to beat loudly in the weeks ahead, and it’s an idea that college football analysts and fans appear to be on board with.
It’s super early in the process so this is subject to change, but here is my Top 5 for the Texas Tech Football Head Coaching job…
1. Jeff Traylor (UTSA)
2. Sonny Dykes (SMU)
3. Graham Harrell (USC)
4. Kendall Briles (Arkansas)
5. Bill Napier (Louisiana)— RC Maxfield (@RCMB323) October 25, 2021
Confirmed: #GunsUp head coach Matt Wells relieved of his duties. Eyes will go towards UTSA and Jeff Traylor.
— Mike Craven (@CravenMike) October 25, 2021
UTSA coach Jeff Traylor would be another logical fit if there’s mutual interest, as @CravenMike says here: https://t.co/I9anAlK8xN
— Joseph Hoyt (@JoeJHoyt) October 25, 2021
Jeff Traylor is gonna lead the Red Raiders back to relevance! https://t.co/JKEWPdbely
— Couillon (@diabsoule) October 25, 2021
Jeff Traylor. Let’s do this! 👆🏻
— Coby (@CobyRobins) October 25, 2021
Jeff Traylor – very simple
— Smoose (@smooser) October 25, 2021
Jeff Traylor UTSA would be my number 1 choice and I think the front runner from what I’m reading.
— Dave Dick (@DavidPDick) October 25, 2021
Jeff Traylor would be able to get any in state recruit that doesn’t have an offer from A&M or UT… and he’d even steal some or their targets.
No doubt he can get the talent here, he’s a winner— Kirby Bowlcutt (@TxTechAD) October 25, 2021
Is it Jeff Traylor plane tracking szn yet?
— Tanner Spearman (@tannerspearman) October 25, 2021
Jeff Traylor at UTSA seems like an obvious candidate for the Texas Tech job. Rising star in the coaching ranks who has done a fantastic job at UTSA. Would love to see what he could do at the Power Five level.
— CFB 365 (@CollegeFB_365) October 25, 2021
Jeff Traylor will probably emerge as a leading candidate – and if they get him – watch out for Tech in the new Big 12 in a couple years. https://t.co/Id3hvUeLx5
— Longhorns B12C (OU Sucks) (@Longhorns_B12C) October 25, 2021
"Chris Wallace covers college football for Saturday Down South. He has covered college athletics for multiple newspapers and also worked previously for Rivals.com and GolfChannel.com."
