With major college football programs like Auburn, Florida, LSU and Penn State looking for new head coaches, it’s easy for lower-profile schools like Arkansas and UCLA to get lost in the shuffle.
But both programs — along with a few others, including Cal, which fired Justin Wilcox on Sunday night — also have head-coaching vacancies to fill.
The Razorbacks likely won’t get a high-profile coach like Lane Kiffin, who is reportedly deciding between staying at Ole Miss or leaving for LSU or Florida, but they should get a pretty nice consolation prize from the second tier of coaches believed to be under consideration for new jobs.
Over the weekend, Memphis head coach Ryan Silverfield was the betting favorite to get the Arkansas job — the same one that James Franklin reportedly rejected before signing with the Virginia Tech Hokies — but as of Sunday morning, someone has usurped Silverfield.
more news: Ole Miss’ top Lane Kiffin replacement revealed amid LSU rumors
more news: Auburn expected to hire prestigious head coach: report
North Texas head coach Eric Morris is now the new favorite to get the Arkansas job, according to betting market Kalashi. Silverfield’s chances dropped to 41%, while Morris moved ahead with a 67% chance of appointment.
Other head coaches reportedly in the running for the Arkansas program are Alabama defensive coordinator Ken Womack, former Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher, Tulane’s John Sumrall and USF’s Alex Golesh.
Morris has led the Mean Green to a 10-1 record this season. With a win over Temple next weekend, North Texas will punch its ticket to the AAC Championship Game.
more news: Virginia Tech’s James Franklin may hire top coordinator from Big Ten power
A recent report from ESPN is working in Morris’ favor during the coaching cycle, stating that he plans to bring 3,000-yard quarterback Drew Mestemaker with him to whichever school recruits him.
Securing a head coach-quarterback package deal is extremely attractive for the 2-9 Razorbacks, who will lose senior QB Tylen Greene at the end of the season.
Besides junior Brayson McHenry, the other three QBs on Arkansas’ roster – KJ Jackson, Trevor Jackson and Grayson Wilson – are all freshmen with a combined 42 career pass attempts.
However, Mestemaker leads the nation in passing yards (3,469) and is fifth in touchdown passes (26) and 12th in completion percentage (70.1).
more news: Elite college football programs lost 19 commitments in the last month
<a href=