Brian Ferentz, Iowa
No one on this list was publicly flogged more than Ferentz last year, and rightly so. Iowa responded by adjusting his contract. His contract was reduced to $850,000 and if Iowa does not average twenty-five points per game or win seven games, Ferentz is fired.
The Hawkeyes landed Cade McNamara from Michigan and he is a massive upgrade at QB for them. They also keep two top-level tight ends and talented RB Kaleb Johnson Lastly, Iowa always has an excellent offensive line. I expect Iowa’s offense to improve, but we don’t know if they improve enough.
https://twitter.com/RedditCFB/status/1622711900789424129
Rob Sale, Florida
Sale was Billy Napier’s OC at Louisiana from 2018 to 2020 before spending 2021 with the New York Giants as their OL coach. He rejoined him in Gainesville last year as OC and it was a poor first year for both. The Gators’ offense was very shaky despite having Anthony Richardson at quarterback.
Sale has a great reputation and is a good coach, but he needs to show that this year. The adjustment phase for them is over and results are needed in 2023 for Sale to see year three. Graham Mertz was brought in from Wisconsin and he will have a fantastic rushing game to help him. However, if somebody shuts down Florida’s run game, is he talented enough to lead the Gators to a win?
https://twitter.com/patodonnell22_/status/1639663236000759810
Bobby Petrino, Texas A&M
Petrino comes to College Station after a successful stint as Missouri State’s head coach. He had well-publicized scandals in his past but the guy is a great offensive coach and knows how to score points. Very few teams, if any, have the upside and ability to improve from 2022 as the Aggies do.
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The talent is there and they were so young last year and like Iowa, the defense was very good which saved the Aggies from an even worse 2021 year. Will A&M improve on offense? I guarantee it. Will it be enough for Jimbo Fisher (and by extension, Petrino) his job? Only time will tell.
https://twitter.com/Brett_McMurphy/status/1681014997340631043
Gerad Parker, Notre Dame
After Tommy Rees left for Alabama, and Notre Dame couldn’t land Utah OC Andy Ludwig, the Irish chose to promote their TE coach. Luckily, Parker has experience from being West Virginia’s OC, which is a positive.
Another positive is transfer quarterback Sam Hartman, but it’s a double-edged sword. While he is a huge get for the Irish, it also puts more pressure on Parker to produce early. For me this was an underwhelming hire when it happened, he wasn’t the first choice and guys like that always face scrutiny at major institutions like Notre Dame if they don’t excel.
https://twitter.com/tbhorka/status/1650544608839970835
Shannon Dawson, Miami
Dawson has had a heck of a tenure at Houston as OC under Dana Holgorsen and he’ll need all the nous he can muster in Coral Gables. The Hurricanes regressed in Mario Cristobal’s first year as head coach and Josh Gattis was shown the door. Tyler Van Dyke was once viewed as a solid NFL prospect at QB before the debacle last year. Can Dawson unleash his potential again?
One thing the Hurricanes have done well the last two years is recruit and utilize the portal, this is a talented squad. However, if the Hurricanes have another down year Mario may be forced to fire some assistants to keep his own job. Dawson, despite being his first season would also likely be first on that list.
