SEC assistants Will Muschamp, Randy Shannon, Mario Cristobal and Geoff Collins are all prime candidates for the job opening at UCF, according to The Orlando Sentinel.

Each one of these four coaches have a sense of where to look for players in the state of Florida, each with a direct tie to the Sunshine State. Muschamp coached the Gators from 2011-14 before joining Gus Malzahn’s staff as Auburn’s defensive coordinator last December. Cristobal, believed to be one of the front-runners at Miami, is a Florida native and led the FIU program for several years before teaming up with Nick Saban in Tuscaloosa.

Current Florida assistants Shannon and Collins are also connected to greater Central Florida. Shannon spent 20 years on staff at Miami after playing there in the 1980s while Collins worked two seasons (2008-09) as UCF’s linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator.

The Orlando Sentinel report indicates that Muschamp and former Auburn coach Gene Chizik, who’s now at North Carolina as the Tar Heels’ defensive coordinator, have expressed “high interest” in UCF.

Former Florida State Heisman-winning quarterback Chris Weinke is another possible candidate.

The Knights are only two years removed from a 12-1 season highlighted by a BCS bowl game victory over Baylor. They’ll try and avoid an 0-12 season tonight in Orlando.