Thoughts of the Day: November 11, 2021

A few thoughts to jump start your Thursday morning: THESE COACHES SHOULD BE ON THE FLORIDA RADAR Here are five coaches (three defensive coordinators, two O-line) who, if they’re not already on Dan Mullen’s radar, should be. Please note that four of the five are Florida grads and the fifth grew up in Valdosta and dreamed of playing for the Gators when he was in high school.

Defensive coordinator

Marquand Manuel, New York Jets: Recruited to UF by Steve Spurrier from Miami High, he had 308 tackles, eight sacks and six interceptions in his career. He was made the SEC Academic Honor Roll four times. He spent nine years playing in the NFL, earned a Super Bowl ring in 2013 coaching the secondary with the Seattle Seahawks. He’s been a defensive coordinator in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons and currently coaches the secondary for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Doug Belk, Houston: He’s 32 years old and a native of Valdosta. He played collegiately at Carson Newman and was a graduate assistant for Nick Saban at Alabama from 2014-16. He coached corners at West Virginia (2017-18), was Co-DC at Houston in 2019-20 and is now the defensive coordinator and assistant head coach at Houston. His defense currently ranks 9th nationally (300.1 yards per game), 8th against the run (99.22 yards, 3.27 per carry) and is tied for 10th in sacks (32 for -209 yards). He’s considered an exceptional recruiter who will be somebody’s head coach someday.

Gene Chizik: Surprised? Don’t be. He had that one great year as Auburn’s head coach (national championship in 2010) but before that he was considered one of the nation’s brightest defensive coordinators at Auburn and Texas. He won the Broyles Award as the nation’s top assistant in 2004. He walked on at Florida and played for Charley Pell. Chris Doering thinks Chizik would gladly come out of retirement if Florida called. The man can recruit.

Offensive Line Joe Wickline, Baylor: Wickline was a three-year letterman for the Gators, first under Doug Dickey, then under Charley Pell. His late father-in-law was Hoss Adams (Florida special teams coach during the Charley Pell era). Wickline coached the O-line at Florida during Ron Zook’s three years. During his nine years at Oklahoma State, the Cowboys consistently had one of the nation’s most prolific offenses. He’s currently at Baylor, where the Bears rank 21st nationally in total offense (457.7 yards per game, 7.05 yards per carry), 8thin rushing (231.56 per game, 5.8 per carry) and tied for fourth in fewest sacks allowed (seven in nine games). Baylor averages 8.8 yards per pass attempt. His O-lines are known for toughness. He’s an outstanding recruiter.

Phil Trautwein, Florida: Trautwein was recruited to Florida by Joe Wickline in Ron Zook’s 2004 recruiting class. He was a key O-line reserve on the 2006 national championship team and the starter at left tackle in all 14 games in Florida’s run to the 2008 national championship. He’s got a master’s degree from UF. He worked for Steve Addazio as a grad assistant at Boston College from 2013-15 and as Addazio’s O-line coach from 2018-19. He’s been the O-line coach at Penn State since 2020. His 2019 line at BC helped the Eagles average 253.15 rushing yards per game and gave up only 13 sacks in 13 games. He’s thought to be an exceptional recruiter who has four OL commits to the 2022 Penn State recruiting class which is ranked third.

MIKE WHITE SIGNS THREE Florida basketball coach Mike White put together one of his better recruiting classes with the Wednesday signings of Malik Reneau (6-9, 220, Hialeah Gardens, FL/Montverde, FL Montverde Academy), Jalen Reed (6-10, 220, Jackson, MS/Castaic, CA Southern California Academy) and Denzel Aberdeen (6-4, 175, Orlando, FL Dr. Phillips). Florida’s class ranked 19th nationally by 247Sports and 24th by Rivals.

Reneau is a 5-star power forward for perennial high school superpower Montverde Academy. He’s a mobile lefty who has solid fundamentals at both ends of the court. He’s not going to be a highlight reel guy, but he’s not the kind who makes mistakes that get you beaten either. He’s a very good passer and solid rebounder. Reneau chose the Gators over offers from Florida State, Memphis, Indiana, LSU, Ole Miss, Virginia and Arkansas.

Reed is the son of former Ole Miss All-SEC power forward Justice Reed, who played for Rod Barnes, who just happened to be Mike White’s collegiate coach. Reed’s late father played five years in the NBA. Jalen is a late bloomer who could very well add a 5th star beside his name if he has the kind of high school season that he’s expected to have. He has excellent ball handling skills, shoots very well inside 18 feet although he can make 3-pointers. He’s a very good shot blocker but has work to do on his overall defense. Reed chose Florida over offers from South Carolina, Houston, Texas Tech, Arizona State, Vanderbilt, Maryland and Oklahoma.

Aberdeen is a late bloomer who made All-State last year while leading Dr. Phillips to the Florida 7A championship. He is a tall, lanky point guard who will fill out his frame at around 200 pounds. He’s a streaky shooter who gets to the rack off the bounce and plays very good perimeter defense. Aberdeen chose the Gators over offers from Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Minnesota and Texas Tech.

Florida women’s basketball signs two: Frieda Buhner (6-3, Onsabruck, Germany); Myka Perry (6-1, Norman, OK)

Baseball signs four: Yoel Tejada Jr., 1B (6-6, 205, Davie, FL North Broward Prep); Cade Fisher, LHP (6-4, 187, Dalton, GA North Whitfield County); Chris Arroyo, OF (6-2, 215, Coral Springs, FL Marjory Stoneman Douglas); Clete Hartzog, RHP (6-1, 180, Panama City, FL/Dothan AL Wallace Community College) Awaiting word on the following commitments: Luke Heyman, C (6-3, 205, Longwood, FL Lake Brantley); Xavier Isaac, 1B/OF (6-4, 240, Kernersville, GA East Forsyth); Jake Clemente, RHP/OF (Coral Springs, FL Marjory Stoneman Douglas); William Ross, RHP/1B (6-8, 245, Winter Garden, FL West Orange); Blaydon Plain, 1B/RHP (6-5, 195, Greenville, FL Madison County); Salvador Alvarez, C (Miami, FL/Montverde, FL Montverde Academy); Erik Blair, LHP/OF (Ft. Lauderdale, FL Calvary Christian Academy); Landon Moran, 1B/LHP (6-2, 185, Altamonte Springs, FL Lake Brantley)

Softball signs three: Samantha Roe, C (Niceville, FL); Kaila Pollard SS/2B (Riverside, CA Martin Luther King); Olivia Gigante, P/1B (San Diego, CA Patrick Henry)

WHAT A 12-TEAM COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF WOULD LOOK LIKE TODAY We’re stuck with a 4-team playoff, but hopefully, the first two playoff polls will get the commissioners of the Big Ten, Pac-12 and ACC to quit this silly obstruction to expanding to 12 teams. Based on Tuesday night’s rankings, if the playoff were to expand to 12 teams this year, the Big Ten would have three teams in and both the Pac-12 and ACC would get their conference champs in.

Automatic bids (6 highest ranked conference champs) 1. Georgia (SEC), 3. Oregon (Pac-12), 4. Ohio State (Big Ten), 5. Cincinnati (American), 8. Oklahoma (Big 12), 12. Wake Forest (ACC)

Six at-large bids

2. Alabama (SEC), 6. Michigan (Big Ten), 7. Michigan State (Big Ten), 9. Notre Dame (Independent), 10. Oklahoma State (Big 12), 11. Texas A&M (SEC)

First round matchups No. 12 Wake Forest at No 5. Cincinnati; No. 11 Texas A&M at No. 6 Michigan; No. 10 Oklahoma State at No. 7 Michigan State; No. 9 Notre Dame at No. 8 Oklahoma

OVER, UNDER, AROUND AND THROUGH THE SEC (FOOTBALL)

Alabama (8-1, 5-1 SEC): Jahleel Billingsley was expected to be one of the nation’s top tight ends this year, but he’s spent a good portion of the year in Nick Saban’s doghouse. AL.com’s Mike Rodak reports that Saban said, “He’s got to play fast. You can’t drop the ball. Yeah, do we miss his production? Yeah.”

Arkansas (6-3, 2-3 SEC): Ranking and bowl eligibility are something Sam Pittman is trying to sell to recruits. On the SEC Coaches Teleconference Wednesday, Pittman said, “We’re trying to have [recruits] forget we weren’t a very good team the past five seasons or so before this team.”

Auburn (6-3, 3-2 SEC): Safety Zion Puckett, wide receiver Malcolm Johnson Jr. and guard Brandon Council are all expected to recover from their injuries and play Saturday against Mississippi State.

Georgia (9-0, 7-0 SEC): Starting linebacker Adam Anderson has been formally charged with felony rape of a woman on October 29, the day before the Bulldogs played Florida. A Georgia spokesman says that HBC Kirby Smart wasn’t made aware of the investigation until the Monday after the game.

Kentucky (6-3, 4-3 SEC): Kentucky HBC Mark Stoops has had it with SEC officials and said on the SEC Coaches Teleconference that he will no longer send questionable calls to the SEC office for review. “I don’t even know why I turn in plays anymore,” Stoops said. “It certainly doesn’t matter. I don’t think I will from now on.”

LSU (4-5, 2-4 SEC): LSU will be without both starting guards against Arkansas. Right guard Chasen Hines has been lost for the season and left guard Ed Ingram has been unable to practice this week.”

Mississippi State (5-4, 3-3 SEC): Mike Leach said on the SEC Coaches Teleconference that approximately 40 students answered his campus-wide call for tryouts for placekicker.

Missouri (4-5, 1-4 SEC): Missouri, which ranks 129th out of 130 Division I teams in rushing defense (271 yards per game) will be facing a South Carolina team that ran for 289 yards last week against Florida. HBC Eli Drinkwitz says the Tigers have to execute better.

Ole Miss (7-2, 4-2 SEC): Matt Corral hasn’t been practicing due to an ankle injury but he has not missed a game. Corral has thrown for 2,527 yards and 16 touchdowns while running for 528 and 10 TDs.

South Carolina (5-4, 2-4 SEC): The Gamecocks can become bowl eligible with a win over Missouri Saturday.

Tennessee (5-4, 3-3 SEC): The Vols scored 45 points on Kentucky last week with only 13:52 time of possession. “I’ve never been a part of a game with that little time of possession and that kind of success we had,” said HBC Josh Heupel.

Texas A&M (7-2, 4-2 SEC): The Aggies have found success behind QB Zach Calzada, who began the season as the backup to Haynes King. Asked on the SEC Coaches Teleconference if King is making progress since surgery, Jimbo Fisher said, “He’s still rehabbing and healing.”

Vanderbilt (2-7, 0-5 SEC): The Commodores rank dead last in the SEC in total offense (301.2 yards per game) and next to last (462.7 per game) in total defense.

SEC BASKETBALL

Mississippi State (1-0): North Carolina transfer Garrison Brooks scored 18 points in his debut with Mississippi State as the Bulldogs opened their season with a 75-49 win over North Alabama.

Vanderbilt (1-0): Scotty Pippen Jr. had 15 points, two rebounds, two assists and four steals to lead Vanderbilt past Alabama State 91-72.

FINEBAUM SAYS …

Color Paul Finebaum surprised that Michigan was ranked (6th) ahead of Michigan State (7th) when the latest College Football Playoff poll was released Tuesday night. Just a couple of Saturdays ago, Michigan State beat Michigan head-on.

“I was gobsmacked when I heard that last night and then the explanation from the chairman, Gary Barta, made even less sense,” Finebaum said. “He said we looked at it and we concluded that Michigan was the better team. No, you must have missed a game if that was your conclusion. I understand that when you play early in the season like Ohio State and Oregon, things can change eight weeks later, but nothing has changed. That game was 12 days ago and of all the preposterous statements that this committee has uttered in eight years, that may be No. 1.”

ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: American Athletic Conference commish Mike Aresco emailed ESPN Wednesday and claimed there is a double standard that puts “unfair pressure” on Cincinnati when it comes to the College Football Playoff poll. The Bearcats are ranked fifth and have played a schedule that ranks 102nd in strength. The only win over a quality team is Notre Dame. UCF is the only other team the Bearcats have played that has a winning record. Oklahoma has a 9-0 record but is ranked 8th. The Sooners do have to play No. 13 Baylor and No. 10 Oklahoma State, plus a Big 12 Conference championship game, likely against Baylor or Oklahoma State. If Oklahoma wins out, it would be a no-brainer to me to put them in the top four if either Alabama, Oregon or Ohio State lose a game. Sorry Cincinnati, but good opponents matter.