Things continue to change for the Auburn football program in the offseason as players hit the transfer portal left and right and the Tigers continue to search for Mike Bobo’s replacement offensive coordinator. With three-year starting quarterback Bo Nix officially entering the transfer portal, it’s likely that Auburn is nearing an OC hire.
After considering many candidates for the job, including everyone from UGA run game coordinator Dell McGee to Arizona State OC Zak Hill, sources indicate that Auburn has closed in on a former NFL player and current NFL coach as the favorite.
College football insider Jake Crain of The Jboy Show has officially predicted that current Seattle QB coach Austin Davis will be Auburn football’s next offensive coordinator.
I expect Austin Davis to be the next Auburn OC
— Jake “JBOY” Crain (@JakeCrain_) December 13, 2021
Auburn Live reports that head coach Bryan Harsin has been communicating with Seattle Seahawks quarterback coach Austin Davis since December 7, and Harsin planned to talk with Seattle head coach Pete Carroll on Sunday night.
Davis spent seven years playing in the NFL, the past three with Seattle, before joining the Seahawks’ staff as the QB coach. Prior to his professional career, Davis played quarterback at Southern Miss after joining the team as a walkon.
But is it a smart move for Harsin to hire someone with so little coaching experience and no experience at all in playcalling? It’s likely that 2022 could be the season that Bryan Harsin returns to calling his own plays while Austin Davis focuses on coaching the offense and quarterbacks. Alternately, wide receivers coach and former Boise State OC Eric Kiesau could be promoted to co-offensive coordinator should Austin be hired.
Either way, with soon-to-be redshirt freshman Dematrius Davis waiting in the wings and high-caliber QB Holden Geriner joining the Tigers’ ranks next season, Austin Davis could be the best option for the vacant OC position on the Plains.