AUBURN, Alabama — South Carolina running backs coach Bobby Bentley is not expected to accept an offer to become Auburn's next offensive coordinator, sources tell Auburn Undercover.

Barring a last-minute change of heart concerning his role with Auburn, Bentley is expected to remain at South Carolina, where his son, Jake, is the starting quarterback on Will Muschamp's team. Jake Bentley will be a senior next season for the Gamecocks. One of Bobby Bentley's other sons is on the strength and conditioning staff at South Carolina.

Both Auburn and South Carolina are in the midst of big recruiting weekends at their respective campuses.

Bentley was targeted by Auburn coach Gus Malzahn as the Tigers' next offensive coordinator after Hugh Freeze, a candidate, accepted the head coaching job at Liberty on Thursday. Auburn is expected to move quickly to its next tier of candidates for the job left vacant earlier this week by Chip Lindsey, who left for the same position on Les Miles' staff at Kansas.

Bentley earned $400,000 per year as South Carolina’s running backs coach. Lindsey was paid north of $700,000 per season as Auburn’s offensive coordinator and earned $1.1 million last season.

Auburn’s offense struggled throughout the 2017 season, scoring 30 points only twice against FBS opponent. Auburn's offense ranked 94th nationally at 373.6 yards per game and 71st in scoring offense (28.3 points per game), and the Tigers are in danger of an SEC record coming to an end after nine straight seasons producing at least one 1,000-yard running back. Simply put, the Auburn offense went from leading the SEC in scoring in 2017 and winning the SEC West with wins against two No. 1 teams, to the second-worst offensive production in Malzahn’s coaching career.

Bentley broke into college coaching as an offensive analyst at Auburn in 2014 and 2015, when his son was a fast-rising recruit before becoming South Carolina’s starting quarterback. The family moved to Opelika, Alabama, where their son garnered headlines and a 4-star ranking from the 247Sports Composite. He chose South Carolina shortly after his father joined Will Muschamp’s staff starting with the 2016 season.

Bobby Bentley was a legendary high school coach in South Carolina, where he won four straight state championships coaching James F. Byrnes High School in Duncan, South Carolina from 2002 through 2005. The Rebels were an incredible 57-2 during that stretch. The same year Malzahn led Springdale High in Arkansas to an undefeated record and No. 2 national ranking, Bobby Bentley was named the Nike National Coach of the Year in 2005 after winning a fourth straight state title.

Bentley was originally offered a job by Malzahn on his Arkansas State staff in 2012, but he turned it down. A year later, Malzahn led Auburn to the BCS Championship game and Bobby turned to his wife, Paulette, and told her if the opportunity presented itself again, he should take it, according to the Post and Courier.

Bentley followed then-Auburn defensive coordinator Will Muschamp to South Carolina, when Muschamp was hired as head coach. He was hired to a yet-to-be-determined position, but because of Bentley’s relationship with the Muschamps and his time teaching Jackson Muschamp, Will’s son, the finer details of being a quarterback, Will took notice and immediately snatched Bobby for a full time job, where he would later become the running backs coach.

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