Had we decided, five years ago, to begin ranking the best coaching and support staff talents in college football, Oklahoma’s current head coach Lincoln Riley — formerly the offensive coordinator at East Carolina — would have made the cut.

That’s an eye-opening testament as to how college football is increasingly a young person’s game. Of the 21 head coach hires this offseason, the average age was 45.9, with four under the age of 40. Last season’s average was 45.7. It’s fair to say that our 30Under30 is a prospects ranking of sorts for coaches: Using our network of contacts, team-site based reporters and college football SIDs, we asked: Who on your staff is going to be a star? Why? And are they under 30?

There are so many essential non-coaching personnel that dot a college program’s staff, whether they’re responsible for the recruiting department or the day-to-day operations as the head coach’s lieutenant. We wanted this list to also recognize them.

We’re pleased to unveil our second iteration of the 30Under30. Here are college football’s rising stars entering the 2018 season.

In alphabetical order:

Cam Aiken, Clemson, Offensive Analyst (29): The Clemson staff is super high on Aiken, who’s been with the program for all three playoff runs. He’s seen as a vital part of the team’s game-day planning and execution.

Tyler Bowen, Penn State, Tight Ends Coach (29): An offensive GA in 2014, Bowen is back as a full-timer in Happy Valley. He’s got a bright offensive background, having coached Maryland’s offensive line in 2017 and learning the ropes under Joe Moorhead in Fordham system (2015, 2016).

Jon Budmayr, Wisconsin, Quarterbacks Coach (27): A former quarterback for the Badgers, Budmayr was named quarterbacks coach this offseason after two years as a quality control assistant and one year as a GA in Madison. He also worked under Paul Chryst as a GA at Pittsburgh. Can he help Alex Hornibrook take the next step?

Kodi Burns, Auburn, Co-offensive Coordinator/Receivers Coach (29): Not too long ago, Burns was catching a touchdown pass from Cam Newton in the 2010 BCS Championship Game. Burns has fit plenty into his coaching resume since then: Graduate assistant at Arkansas State and Auburn (both with Gus Malzahn), running backs coach at Samford, wide receivers coach at MTSU, running backs coach at Arizona State. He returned to The Plains in 2016. Auburn’s retooled offensive attack scored 34 points per game a year ago.

MORE: Kodi Burns is on the fast track to coaching stardom

Bryan Carrington, Texas, Director of Recruiting (28): Tom Herman put Carrington on the road over the winter as the school’s temporary 10th coach, and it paid off, especially in helping land four-star cornerback, current freshman Anthony Cook. Texas inked the No. 3 recruiting class in the nation in 2018.

Austyn Carta-Samuels, Missouri, Offensive Analyst (27): A former starting quarterback for Vanderbilt who was Missouri’s recruiting coordinator in 2017, Carta-Samuels is now an offensive quality control analyst who will take on an important role in supporting first time coordinator Derek Dooley and helping with the quarterback position.

Callie Seidman Dale, Stanford, Associate Director of Football Operations (28): A full-time member of Stanford’s football staff since 2013, Dale was promoted to associate director of football operations in 2017. The former collegiate lacrosse player is the District Nine rep on the National Director of Football Operations Committee. She has spearheaded initiatives for David Shaw to make Stanford football a leader on campus and nationally in sexual and relationship violence awareness. She was also integral in the coordination and execution of Stanford’s 10-day Sydney, Australia trip to open the 2017 season.

Spencer Danielson, Boise State, Outside Linebackers Coach (29): A defensive graduate assistant in 2017 that still oversaw the STUD position, Danielson is entering his first season as a full-time assistant for the Broncos. Under his watch in 2017, Jabril Frazier and freshman Curtis Weaver earned all-conference and combined for 17 sacks. Danielson coached linebackers at Azusa Pacific for three years, prior to making the move to Boise.

Cort Dennison, Oregon, Linebackers Coach (29): A former all-conference linebacker for the Washington Huskies, Dennison worked his way up the ranks on Bobby Petrino’s staff since Petrino’s days at Western Kentucky. He joined Oregon in the offseason.

Kenny Dillingham, Memphis, Offensive Coordinator (28): Dillingham’s one of the youngest offensive coordinators in college football and, if the last few years are any indication, he’s clearly got a grasp on this whole “offense” thing. A graduate assistant-turned-QB-coach-turned-OC in three seasons, he had a hand in Riley Ferguson’s offensive bonanza. We’re interested to see how the Tigers look with a new quarterback at the helm.

Bryan Ellis, Southern Cal, Quarterbacks Coach (29): A one-time quarterback star at UAB and a Jeff Brohm disciple at Western Kentucky, Ellis was a quality control assistant for the Trojans last season before earning a full-time gig on the offensive staff once Tyson Helton left for Tennessee. Now he’s tasked with breaking in USC’s replacement for Sam Darnold.

Jeffrey Faris, Duke, Tight Ends Coach/Recruiting Coordinator (28): Faris graduated from Duke with a degree in economics in 2012 as a member of the football team. He transitioned to the Blue Devils coaching staff the summer after his graduation, working as a GA. He coached wide receivers from 2015-17 and transitioned to tight ends coach with recruiting coordinator duties this offseason.

Matt Guerrieri, Duke, Safeties Coach (28): Guerrieri was a three-year letterman at safety for Davidson College before joining the Duke staff as a graduate assistant in 2012. Guerrieri earned a promotion to safeties coach in 2015, the same year that saw Blue Devils safety Jeremy Cash become the ACC defensive player of the year.

Jay Harbaugh, Michigan, Running Backs Coach (29): Yes, he’s Jim’s son — but Jay’s done plenty on his own to earn a nod on this list. As running backs coach in 2017, Harbaugh oversaw a room that had three backs rush for over 500 yards. Starter Karan Higdon chipped in UM’s first 1,000-yard season since 2011. He has also been critical to Michigan recruiting one of the top RB classes in 2019.

MORE: Harbaugh takes nepotism jokes in stride in forging his own future

Aaron Henry, NC State, Secondary Coach (29): Henry brings a lot to the table for the Wolfpack: He’s entering his second season as the nickelbacks coach, he moonlights as the team’s motivational speaker prior to each game and he’s a proven recruiter with some four-star skins on the wall.

Randall Joyner, SMU, Defensive Ends Coach (26): A high-energy coach who pupiled under defensive line mastermind Larry Johnson at Ohio State, where he was a graduate assistant. Joyner played linebacker at SMU from 2010-13 and departed the Buckeyes with glowing reviews.

Collin Klein, Kansas State, Co-offensive Coordinator (28): A 2012 Heisman Trophy finalist and arguably the best signal caller in Kansas State history, Klein was promoted to co-offensive coordinator, to go with his duties as QB coach, this winter after Dana Dimel left to be the head coach at UTEP.

Nick Lezynski, Notre Dame, Defensive GA (29) - The Fighting Irish think highly of Lezynski, who coached linebackers for Lafayette (Pa.) College, was an assistant secondary coach at Holy Cross and has prior GA experience at UConn. Lezynski graduated from Notre Dame in 2011 and walked on to the football team.

Matt Lindsey, South Carolina, Director of Player Personnel (27): Lindsey joined the Gamecocks’ staff in 2017 after serving as the Philadelphia Eagles’ college scouting coordinator. In his current role, Lindsey oversees all recruiting services and recruiting videos and identifies potential student-athletes for the coaching staff. He’s considered a rising star within the personnel community.

Wilson Love, FAU, Head S&C Coach/Assistant Head Coach (27): An assistant football strength and conditioning coach under the excellent Scott Cochran at Alabama, Love followed Lane kiffin to FAU. Love added duties as FAU’s assistant head coach following the 2017 season.

Marshall Malchow, Georgia, Director of Player Personnel (28): Have you seen the way Georgia’s recruiting? Malchow has had a big hand in that. He has prior experience with Chris Petersen at Washington and Boise State and got his start as a student personnel assistant at Alabama so he’s worked under several of the game’s best coaches in short order.

Chris Marve, Vanderbilt, Linebackers Coach (29): Marve is a former Vanderbilt linebacker, having captained the Commodores’ defense under Robbie Caldwell and James Franklin. He was a quality control coach on Derek Mason’s initial Vanderbilt staff and has since climbed the ranks, coaching Zach Cunningham to an All-SEC season and a second-round selection in the 2017 NFL Draft and followed that by shepherding Oren Burks to an 82-tackle season and a third round selection in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Kirby Moore, Fresno State, Wide Receivers Coach (28): A former Boise State receiver (you might remember his quarterback brother, Kellen), Kirby’s first year at Fresno State was successful, with junior wideout KeeSean Johnson earning All-Mountain West honors thanks to a 77-catch, 1,013-yard campaign. Moore was an offensive GA on Washington’s playoff team that featured John Ross and Dante Pettis.

Brian Niedermeyer, Tennessee, Tight Ends Coach (29) - Niedermeyer followed Jeremy Pruitt — who he worked with recently at both Alabama and Georgia — to Knoxville this offseason. For those schools, Niedermeyer gained experience working on the recruiting and defensive staffs. He’ll coach tight end for the Vols, a position he played at Arkansas Pine Bluff. He has proven to be one of Tennessee’s most effective recruiters.

Bryn Renner, FIU, Director of Player Personnel (28): Former UNC and NFL quarterback that helped FIU put together the top ranked class in the history of the program in the 2018 cycle. He draws rave reviews from head coach Butch Davis.

Landan Salem, Syracuse, Director of Player Personnel (26): A new hire by the Orange, Salem spent last season as Lane Kiffin’s director of player personnel at FAU. He’s worked at Pitt, Michigan State, Illinois and NC State and was also an intern for the Indianapolis Colts.

Nathan Scheelhaase, Iowa State, Running Backs Coach (27): Replacing Northwestern-bound Louis Ayeni in Ames is Scheelhaase, who’ll immediately get to coach superstar back David Montgomery. Scheelhaase was a four-year starter at quarterback for Illinois and was an offensive analyst in Champaign the last two seasons.

Glenn Schumann, Georgia, Linebackers Coach (28): Prior to joining Kirby Smart’s Georgia staff, Schumann had been an Alabama staffer dating back to 2008. Schumann came to the Bulldogs as a linebackers coach after having occupied off-the-field roles in Tuscaloosa. And now he has “groomed Roquan Smith” on his resume. Has also been a key cog in Georgia’s quick rise to recruiting dominance.

Patrick Toney, Louisiana, Safeties Coach (28): A standout coach and recruiter for Frank Wilson at UTSA, Toney’s helped the Ragin’ Cajuns to the No. 1 recruiting class in the Sun Belt, pulling several players with bigger offers.

Charlie Weis Jr., FAU, Offensive Coordinator (25): Lane Kiffin made plenty of waves when he hired Weis Jr. as his offensive coordinator this offseason. Take his age: Weis Jr. is 25. And take his name: You’ve probably heard of his father. Weis Jr. doesn’t have many skins on the wall, but he’s been around three Power Five staffs (including Alabama’s), and was an offensive analyst for the Atlanta Falcons in 2017. Read Chris Hummer's profile on Weis Jr.'s rise.

Bonus name: Ephi Levy, a Florida State senior studying sports management while working in the football program as a recruiting assistant. Folks in Tallahassee are high on Levy, who is already seen as a vital member of the Seminoles' day-to-day recruiting operations. He is 22.