An interesting potential candidate for the South Carolina head coaching position sits in the same state as the Gamecocks, and may fill some of the prerequisites in the mind of Athletics Director Ray Tanner.

But Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott told reporters on Monday that he’s not focused on the vacancy at this time.

“I’m focused on these players and this staff right now,” Elliott said. “They’ve been too good for me to focus on other jobs.”

How do you avoid talk of other programs being interested in you?

“I don’t answer my phone,” he said. “I’m transparent — this is who I am. I remind my family to not bring my name up. We are in 2020 these guys have invested so much in a pandemic. It would be selfish of me.”

Earlier on Monday at a press conference, Tanner outlined how an offensive-minded coach may be what the Gamecocks are looking for in their next coach.

“I think as we sit here today and we think about college football … it may be a time that everybody lights up the scoreboard,” Tanner said. “The 10-7 games are distant memory. I think that’s important that we maybe get an offensive-oriented type situation whether it’s the head coach or fantastic coordinator to move the needle in that capacity.”

He also added that it would not be a requirement that South Carolina takes a “sitting head coach … but there’s other examples and other circumstances around the country that have worked extremely well, whether they were a coordinator or a position coach.”

H/T Joshua Needelman and Clemson Sports.