GAINESVILLE, Fla. – For the first time in his two-year tenure at Florida, Jim McElwain has lost an assistant to a better opportunity. On Monday, defensive coordinator Geoff Collins accepted the head coaching position at Temple.

Under Collins, the Gators were No. 8 (2015) and No. 6 (2016) in total defense. Collins, however, inherited a roster full of NFL talent that will mostly be gone when his successor arrives. With a solid core of position coaches already on staff, McElwain will likely look at known recruiters and SEC veterans to be the next coordinator or co-coordinator.

Here are five candidates to keep an eye on:

Tosh Lupoi, Alabama, co-defensive coordinator

To leave Alabama, Lupoi would probably want an increase from his current $550,000 salary and to be defensive coordinator without the “co” (a la Collins), which could rub Randy Shannon the wrong way, but it might be worth it for McElwain to take that risk. Hiring Lupoi would show McElwain’s commitment to revamping his staff’s recruiting efforts, something that is dangerously overdue in the eyes of many Florida fans and boosters.

Type “Tosh Lupoi” into Google and the results are bound to have something about recruiting in the headline. While Lupoi cut his teeth on the West Coast, he’s acclimated to life in the SEC as an analyst, linebackers coach and now co-defensive coordinator at Alabama. There’s no direct connection between Lupoi and McElwain, but both having worked for Nick Saban would serve as a solid foundation for a working relationship.

If McElwain were able to choose any defensive coordinator in college football, he would probably pick Alabama’s Jeremy Pruitt, his friend and former colleague. While Pruitt has left jobs for pay raises in the past, Florida seems unfit for a bidding war with a Saban loyalist already making $1 million per year. Lupoi, the co-defensive coordinator, is likely the next best thing for McElwain and the Gators.

Travaris Robinson, South Carolina, defensive coordinator

If one believes that the success of the Florida defenses in McElwain’s tenure belongs more to former coach Will Muschamp than Collins, then Robinson is the man for the job. The former Gators secondary coach (2011-14) is the defensive coordinator at South Carolina, where Muschamp maintains a hands-on approach as the head coach.

Some might consider Robinson a pointless pursuit because he has shown loyalty to Muschamp, following him to Auburn in 2015 and South Carolina in 2016. He makes $750,000 at South Carolina, and the Gators paid Collins $890,000 this past season, suggesting they could offer Robinson a raise. While the Gamecocks were No. 6 in the SEC in total defense this season with Robinson making calls, many will attribute that to Muschamp’s influence.

As a Miami native, Robinson would definitely help the Gators recruit in South Florida again. If Florida isn’t sold on Robinson as a coordinator yet, or if he doesn’t want to coach against Muschamp, there’s another Gamecocks staffer that could be a fit …

Lance Thompson, South Carolina, assistant head coach for defense

If McElwain wants to fill Collins’ spot externally with an SEC veteran, Thompson fits the bill. McElwain and Thompson were on staff at Alabama in 2008 before Thompson left for a three-year stint at Tennessee. Thompson returned to Alabama in 2012 and coached for three seasons. In 2015, he coached linebackers at Auburn before following Muschamp to South Carolina.

Thompson’s title is defensive coordinator-like, and his salary is $500,000. It would be easy for Florida to offer him a raise and more a prominent role in the defense. While he doesn’t have the same reputation on the recruiting trail as Lupoi or Robinson, it’s worth noting that Thompson was Alabama’s primary recruiter for Julio Jones and Jonathan Allen.

Sal Sunseri, Oakland Raiders, linebackers coach

If McElwain is thinking of his Alabama days to fill the spot on Florida’s staff, Sunseri is the assistant he would know best. He’s in Oakland coaching the Raiders, but Sunseri knows the Gators from many seasons of coaching on opposing sidelines.

McElwain and Sunseri were together in Tuscaloosa from 2009-11, when Sunseri held the title of assistant head coach and linebackers coach. After that, Sunseri went to Tennessee for a season as the defensive coordinator. He then went to FSU as the defensive head coach (not coordinator) and defensive line coach. He has been with the Raiders since 2015.

If McElwain wants a familiar face from his past, it’s hard to argue against Sunseri.

Randy Shannon, Florida, linebackers/co-defensive coordinator

In all likelihood, Shannon will receive a promotion and a bump in pay from his salary of $400,000. Shannon, who has a resume worthy of the job, gives McElwain both continuity and flexibility if the “co” is taken off his job title.

With running backs coach Tim Skipper’s past coaching linebackers and defensive backs, there’s potential for him to slide over as the fourth defensive assistant and give McElwain the opportunity to add a new coach to the offensive staff.

With Shannon’s past as Miami’s defensive coordinator from 2001-06, then becoming the Hurricanes’ head coach from 2007-10, he’s the most qualified of any legitimate candidate. Shannon hasn’t been what anyone would call a dynamite recruiter at Florida, but he’s coached up some underrated linebackers, his area of expertise. If the Gators promote Shannon, the next hire will be about finding a recruiter who will bring more blue-chippers to Gainesville.