Where there is smoke, sometimes there is fire. And earlier this week there was a significant amount of smoke surrounding the courting of Texas defensive line coach Bo Davis by the LSU Tigers.
On Wednesday, LSU head coach Brian Kelly cleaned house on the defensive staff, which yielded the 105th best defense (out of 130 FBS programs) in the country this season. Among those released were defensive coordinator Matt House, defensive line coach Jimmy Lindsey, safeties coach Kerry Cooks and cornerbacks coach Robert Steeples. The door seemed to be wide open for Davis to make his exit from the Longhorn coaching staff, where he is in his second stint, to that of his alma mater in Baton Rouge.
However on Friday, a report from Bobby Burton indicated Davis will likely remain in Austin according to his sources. Additionally, Burton mentioned that LSU was one of several programs wanting to acquire Davis’ services.
Furthermore, sources told FootballScoop that obtaining Davis was “an equal or greater priority to hiring a new defensive coordinator.”
Davis coached the likes of Outland Trophy winner T’Vondre Sweat and Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year Byron Murphy, both of whom anchored a Texas defensive line that finished the season ranked 3rd nationally in rushing defense.
Should the Longhorns hold on to Davis it would be a massive victory, as Texas heads to the Southeastern Conference next season and needs the veteran line coach’s expertise in player development.