Breaking down the Shawn Elliott to Georgia State rumors

Is Shawn Elliott headed down I-20 to become the next head coach of Georgia State football? Well, according to an ESPN report from last night, he may well be.

Elliott’s been around since 2010, first as the running game coordinator and offensive line coach before becoming the co-offensive coordinator from 2012-2015, interim head coach after Steve Spurrier’s departure, and finally focusing solely on the o-line this year under Will Muschamp. He was kept on board as a way to bridge the gap between the old and new staff and provide a measure of continuity from a personnel and recruiting standpoint.

Elliott did the best job he could last year as the Gamecocks’ interim coach following Spurrier’s resignation. Although the team finished 1-5, he was thrown into an unexpected situation and held up well all things considered. But, again, there’s the issues with the offensive line that have seen him gain detractors.

With Elliott’s departure, Muschamp will be able to bring in a voice that aligns closer to his than the previous staff’s. A couple of names I’d keep an eye on is former UConn offensive coordinator Frank Verducci and Northern Arizona OL coach Tim Davis. Both served under Muschamp at Florida and have had some success throughout their careers in both the college and professional ranks. (BUT, as Team Speed Kills noted, Verducci came on board when Muschamp hired Charlie Weis as OC at Florida. I’m saying it’s a name to keep an eye on, not that I specifically want the move to happen.)

Another name that has been connected to Georgia State is Oklahoma State defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer (an Atlanta-area native). Charleston Southern head coach Jamey Chadwell, who has built the Buccaneers into one of the up-and-coming programs in FCS, is another name that’s been bounced around. Georgia DC Mel Tucker was another potential candidate a few days ago, but that looks to be off the table. GSU doesn’t have a ton of money to land a “splashy” hire, so going for an assistant or the FCS head coach route may be the best course of action for them.