Now-former Auburn football co-defensive coordinator Charles Kelly's hiring as Jacksonville State's head coach is bad news for Trent Dilfer and UAB. How bad? 247 Sports' Nathan King believes Kelly is about to embarrass Dilfer middle school style.
"Charles Kelly is about to stuff Trent Dilfer into countless lockers," King tweeted.
As ESPN's Mark Schlabach noted, Kelly has extensive experience in Calhoun County from some of the first few jobs on his resume.
"Kelly is returning to Jacksonville State more than a quarter-century after he served in various roles on coaching staffs under Bill Burgess and Mike Williams. Kelly worked as running backs coach in 1994, defensive backs coach in 1995, offensive coordinator in 1996 and defensive coordinator in 1997-98, when the Gamecocks competed at the FCS level," Schlabach wrote.
Dilfer, on the other hand, has been an embarrassment in Birmingham. Brought in by the Blazers due to their ambition of channeling the "Prime Effect" in Boulder, Dilfer has set UAB back in recruiting in his two seasons in charge.
UAB's brain trust committed to seeing it through in 2025, but Dilfer has shown no ability to get it done on the field or on the recruiting trail. His tenure is a ticking time bomb as donors may consider withholding funding. They're not exactly going all in right now as UAB tries to find its footing in the AAC.
With all of that in mind? Yeah, Kelly is likely to stuff Dilfer in lockers. As will most of his recruiting peers from the looks of it.
And to think Dilfer thought UAB would surpass Auburn in recruiting. Surpass Rice first, Trent.