Florida writer sends strong message on Eli Drinkwitz's role in UF, Auburn coaching search

Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz was deemed Auburn's top coaching option if the Tigers fire Hugh Freeze
Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz was deemed Auburn's top coaching option if the Tigers fire Hugh Freeze | John Reed-Imagn Images

The Florida Gators fired Billy Napier on Sunday, a long time coming considering the team's inability to even reach the level Dan Mullen had the program at before him. Missouri Tigers football coach Eli Drinkwitz is a popular name being linked to the school, but Hail Florida Hail's Benjamin Henderson sees another SEC program being a better fit. Even one that doesn't have a head coach opening. Yet.

That'd be the Auburn Tigers, who are spiritually past the Hugh Freeze era even if he remains the head coach. AD John Cohen has admitted that he isn't itching to get rid of Freeze, but the PR on the Plains is rapidly taking hits the more the team loses winnable games and blames it on officiating.

Henderson passed on Drinkwitz as a potential Napier successor, but shared the belief that Eliah could be the top option for Auburn this offseason if the Freeze band-aid is finally ripped off. Drinwitz's connection to the 2010 national championship team was deemed a logical link.

"Eliah Drinkwitz has elevated Missouri into a notable middle-of-the-road SEC program, but there are signs of being a TEMU version of James Franklin," Henderson wrote.

"Since arriving at Missouri, Drinkwitz is just 7-15 against ranked opponents and is 2-14 as a road underdog.

"In case you are keeping score at home, Billy Napier was 5-17 against ranked opponents and 1-11 as a road underdog.

"Drinkwitz will have options this offseason as well. Arkasnas opened up a few weeks ago and he is a native from that state.

"While Florida could have interest in him, he might be a top candidate at Auburn if Hugh Freeze is let go.

"Keep in mind Drinkwitz served under Gus Malzahn's on Gene Chizik's 2010 to 2011 Auburn staffs."

Drinkwitz helped bring Mizzou along slowly but finally got results in his fourth season. Freeze would've gotten that chance if the offense didn't get worse under a supposedly more talented quarterback than Payton Thorne in Jackson Arnold.

Assuming fan backlash reaches a fever pitch and Freeze is fired, Drinkwitz is the safest, but possibly most sensible, potential hire. It'd be Gus Malzahn-esque, but these gambles on Group of 5 successes like Bryan Harsin and Freeze -- since it was Freeze's Liberty Flames tenure that got him hired on the Plains and certainly not how his time with the Ole Miss Rebels ended -- have to stop.

It didn't work for the Gators and Napier, and hasn't worked for either of AU's last two hires.

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