USC Has Sights on Four Linebacker Coaching Candidates

Per Phil Kornblut of the South Carolina Radio News Network, the USC coaching search for a new linebackers coach has narrowed its focus to four candidates.

The four coaches being considered:

1.Lance Thompson, University of Tennessee Defensive Line coach. Thompson is a graduate of The Citadel and has previous experience coaching linebackers at Tennessee. Thompson is a Nick Saban disciple, having coached at Alabama and LSU with Saban. Thompson has been at Tennessee for three seasons, one under Lane Kiffin and two under Derek Dooley.

2.Kevin Steele, former Clemson Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach. Steele is a Tennessee graduate who has had previous coaching stops at UT, Alabama, FSU, Baylor and Clemson, as well as in the NFL with the Carolina Panthers. Steele was fired from his Defensive Coordinator position at Clemson after giving up a bowl record 70 points to West Virginia in the Orange Bowl.

3.Tyrone Nix, former Ole Miss Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach. Nix was a member of Steve Spurrier’s original cast of coaches from 2005-2007. Nix was the Defensive Coordinator at South Carolina from 2006-2007 before leaving to go to Ole Miss in 2008. Nix was relieved of his duties at Ole Miss after Houston Nutt resigned.

4.Kirk Botkin, former Arkansas Defensive Ends Coach was a member of Bobby Petrino’s staff with Lorenzo Ward for one season at Arkansas before Ward left for USC in 2009. Botkin is currently a high school coach in Texas.

SPURspective’s View: I would instantly rule out Steele and Nix. Spurrier is not going to hire a defensive coordinator whose defense just yielded 70 points in a BCS bowl game on national television. Sources indicate that Lorenzo Ward would not be comfortable with Tyrone Nix back on the staff in Columbia. That leaves Thompson (would require lots of $$$$) and Botkin. Thompson is hoping to be considered for the vacant Defensive Coordinator position on Rocky Top. Ward has coached with Botkin and feels comfortable with the former Razorbacks player and coaching colleague.

My hope is USC ponies up the cash and hires Lance Thompson away from Tennessee, but the reality is USC will more than likely hire Botkin.

Go Gamecocks!