Texas Football: 5 best candidates to be next defensive coordinator
1. Morgan Scalley
Current Position: Utah defensive coordinator
Another rising star in the defensive college football coaching ranks is the Utah Utes fourth-year defensive coordinator and long-time assistant under head coach Kyle Whittingham, Morgan Scalley. The 40-year-old Scalley is a former defensive back that played for Utah from 2001-2004.
Scalley joins Wisconsin’s Leonhard as one of the younger rising stars in the defensive coaching ranks. Both are Semifinalists for the Broyles Award. And both are leading defenses for teams this season that sit in the midst of the top 10 ranked squads in the nation. Utah is also a College Football Playoff contender this season thanks to their balanced approach on both sides of the ball.
Utah ranks No. 3 in the nation in points allowed per game this season (11.2) and fourth in the nation in defensive efficiency. They also have arguably the best run defense in the nation, allowing just over 50 yards per game on the ground and just 0.3 touchdowns. The pass defense isn’t too shabby either, allowing just 185.3 yards per game and one score through the air.
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Scalley came on board with the Utah coaching staff back in 2006. He’s served various roles for the Utes, including recruiting coordinator and safeties coach. That versatility in coaching experience should also help the Longhorns on the recruiting trail. The impact of recruiting and developing talent could be helped if they’re able to land Scalley in Orlando’s place.