It's been very quiet the last couple of days... that could change as early as Monday. The expectations were that Steve Sarkisian was going to lock it in for Alabama through the weekend leading into the national championship game and that it would be relatively quiet during this stretch, which it has been.
With business expected to pick up soon, here's a look at the key areas of focus.
Wide Receivers
It'll be interesting to see what happens in the next 48 hours at this position. The expectation for most of the week is that Holoman Wiggins would join Sarkisian from the Alabama staff and not much has really changed on that front. There's some thought that Nick Saban could make an effort to keep Wiggins once Monday night's game is completed, while Oklahoma's 500k+ per year dynamo Dennis Simmons (a former BYU player with Sarkisian in the 90s) is a name that might be getting some pie in the sky run in a world where the dream team of all dream teams comes together. I've checked on both names this weekend and it's quiet. The smart money is still on Wiggins.
Defensive Line/Linebackers
As we reported on Saturday, Bo Davis is locked in for one spot on the defensive line, but our sources were telling us that Atlanta Falcons defensive line coach Tosh Lupoi was in negotiations with Sarkisian as well. What happens with Lupoi could be a critical piece of the remaining puzzle for Sarkisian on a couple of fronts.
Defensive Backs
I've double- and triple-checked on the likes of Corey Raymond and Derrick Ansley this weekend and haven't had anyone tell me that those situations have changed since the arrival of Notre Dame's Terry Joseph. It should be noted that newly arriving Blake Gideon is scheduled to arrive in Austin early this week.
Defensive Coordinator
Almost as soon as Dan Quinn's name started to get a smidge of run as a defensive coordinator option for the Longhorns, the reality that he remains an option for numerous NFL DC positions made him a very unlikely option. Mississippi State's Zach Arnett remains a name that has been regarded as a front-runner for most of the last week, but the fact is, the Arnett hay could have already been in the barn if Sarkisian wanted it to be, has raised questions about the possibility that Alabama's Pete Golding is a secret hush-hush candidate that can't be discussed until the national championship game is completed. I've kicked the tires multiple times this weekend on the possibility of Golding, but haven't been able to find any smoke.
Expect it to all make sense soon.
With business expected to pick up soon, here's a look at the key areas of focus.
Wide Receivers
It'll be interesting to see what happens in the next 48 hours at this position. The expectation for most of the week is that Holoman Wiggins would join Sarkisian from the Alabama staff and not much has really changed on that front. There's some thought that Nick Saban could make an effort to keep Wiggins once Monday night's game is completed, while Oklahoma's 500k+ per year dynamo Dennis Simmons (a former BYU player with Sarkisian in the 90s) is a name that might be getting some pie in the sky run in a world where the dream team of all dream teams comes together. I've checked on both names this weekend and it's quiet. The smart money is still on Wiggins.
Defensive Line/Linebackers
As we reported on Saturday, Bo Davis is locked in for one spot on the defensive line, but our sources were telling us that Atlanta Falcons defensive line coach Tosh Lupoi was in negotiations with Sarkisian as well. What happens with Lupoi could be a critical piece of the remaining puzzle for Sarkisian on a couple of fronts.
Defensive Backs
I've double- and triple-checked on the likes of Corey Raymond and Derrick Ansley this weekend and haven't had anyone tell me that those situations have changed since the arrival of Notre Dame's Terry Joseph. It should be noted that newly arriving Blake Gideon is scheduled to arrive in Austin early this week.
Defensive Coordinator
Almost as soon as Dan Quinn's name started to get a smidge of run as a defensive coordinator option for the Longhorns, the reality that he remains an option for numerous NFL DC positions made him a very unlikely option. Mississippi State's Zach Arnett remains a name that has been regarded as a front-runner for most of the last week, but the fact is, the Arnett hay could have already been in the barn if Sarkisian wanted it to be, has raised questions about the possibility that Alabama's Pete Golding is a secret hush-hush candidate that can't be discussed until the national championship game is completed. I've kicked the tires multiple times this weekend on the possibility of Golding, but haven't been able to find any smoke.
Expect it to all make sense soon.
