Texas Football: 4 best candidates to be next offensive coordinator

2. Graham Harrell

Current Position: USC offensive coordinator

The other coach that has reported interest coming from the Texas football program in the opening for the offensive coordinator role is the former Texas Tech Red Raiders quarterback Graham Harrell. A former Texas Tech quarterback like Harrell that developed in the air raid system in the Big 12 under head coach Mike Leach should be a perfect fit on the Forty Acres under Herman.

Harrell is currently assuming the play-calling duties under head coach Clay Helton at USC. He also has coaching experience in programs in and around the Big 12 since his time as a college quarterback was over. He was the quarterbacks coach for the Big 12 foe Oklahoma State Cowboys in 2009 under head coach Mike Gundy, and he was the wide receivers coach under Leach with the Washington State Cougars from 2014-2015.

Previous to assuming the offensive coordinator role at USC, Harrell was learning under head coach Seth Littrell with the North Texas Mean Green as their offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

But what does Harrell bring to the table in terms of actual production in his first season as the play caller at USC?

He’s clearly made an impact on true freshman quarterback Kedon Slovis, who caught fire down the stretch. And his offense ranks in the top 40 in the FBS in points per game this season, at 33.2. The USC passing game is also completing 71 percent of its passes for around 330 yards and three touchdowns through the air per game.

It also helps that Harrell is reportedly interested in this offensive coordinator opening with the Longhorns.

Yet, given all the coaching instability of late with Helton and USC, Harrell might be interested in gaining more consistency elsewhere. Granted all the coaching turnover on Dec. 1 for the Longhorns doesn’t present the greatest model of consistency at the moment.