CBS Sports names two SEC assistants among fastest-rising coaching candidates
Aside from the select few programs led by the best head coaches in college football, teams always have an eye on the assistants with the most potential. Whether they come from an impeccable coaching tree or have a proven track record of success, there are numerous assistant coaches that become hot commodities each offseason.
In the newest edition of its weekly “Friday Five” series, CBS Sports ranked the five assistant candidates who are considered to be on the rise entering the 2017 season. These are the names that fans will hear about as potential replacements for programs looking to make a change, and with a strong season, they could land a highly sought-after position.
It’s no surprise that two of the assistants on CBS Sports’ list hail from the best conference in college football. Earning the fifth spot on the list is Alabama defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt, while LSU defensive coordinator Dave Aranda holds the third spot.
Here is what author Tom Fornelli had to say about both choices:
On Pruitt – “The man clearly knows how to coach defenses, and Alabama will have yet another fantastic defense in 2017. But the real reason I have Pruitt in the top five here is simply that I believe he’s more likely to get a head coaching job somewhere after the season ends because he has that Nick Saban shine on him. Being an assistant under Saban is a great way to climb the career ladder, as former Saban assistants are running their own programs all over the country.”
On Aranda – “In his first three seasons at Wisconsin — Aranda stayed even after Andersen left for Oregon State — Aranda’s defenses finished in the top 10 of total defense each season and never allowed more than 4.91 yards per play. That success catapulted Aranda to LSU, which needed somebody to save its defense after a down year, and although Aranda couldn’t save Les Miles’ job, he turned around the LSU defense in a hurry. Now he’ll return for his second season in Baton Rouge, and should the Tigers defense have the same type of season, odds are Aranda will find himself getting head coach offers after the season.”
Pruitt benefits from the fact that he’s built championship-caliber defenses at both Florida State and Georgia before arriving at Alabama, which already had a top-notch group in place before his arrival. Kirby Smart landed one of the top openings in the country as the Tide’s longtime defensive coordinator, and Pruitt may be able to do the same.
Aranda is a newcomer to the SEC, but he performed very well in his first season at LSU. The Tigers finished the 2016 campaign ranked fifth in total defense, and Aranda fielded a top-10 defense in each of his three seasons at Wisconsin. If LSU fields an elite defense this fall, despite a few key losses, Aranda should get plenty of calls.