Report: Mike Yurcich Leading Texas OC Candidate

– Super K

While we cannot confirm this…

Ohio State passing game coordinator Mike Yurcich is leading candidate to become new OC at Texas, sources told @Stadium. If Yurcich is hired at Texas, he would remain with Buckeyes thru @CFBPlayoff. Minnesota OC Kirk Ciarrocca also possibility for UT OC job, source said — Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) December 22, 2019

It seems very like for the following reasons:

***Spoke to a source on the Ohio State side, earlier today, and was told that they wouldn’t be surprised to see Yurcich leave. I asked why and was told that it’s a bit of a Grinch situation where Yurcich doesn’t quite fit in with the staff up there in Columbus.

***Also, Yurcich was a Gundy protege and has coached in the Big 12.

***We’d already heard that, should he stay, Tim Beck would likely be moved to another position. Yurcich is the quarterbacks coach at Ohio State and was, as well, at Oklahoma State.

***Was told Yurcich isn’t known as a prolific recruiter – not at Ohio State or Oklahoma State – but is a dang good coach and quarterback developer. So, if this happens, look for Yurcich to pair him with some dynamic recruiters.

Coaching Search | Notes on Yurcich & More

– Super K

***As you know by now, Brett McMurphy, citing sources, has reported that Ohio State passing game coordinator and former Mike Gundy, Mike Yurcich is the “leading candidate to become new OC at Texas”.

***I have asked about this and from what I’m told this sounds like it’s nearly a done deal. I was told at the very least this one has reached a contract phase so I think it’s safe to assume negotiations are done. I did hear through the grapevine that Washington is a school that may be looking at Yurcich so I suppose if the contract is in hand (which I believe it is) but hasn’t been signed that could change things. But again, it sounds like this one is pretty close to done.

***As I noted in the comments section yesterday, it’s looking less and less likely that Tim Beck will return in any capacity.

***As for the remainder of the staff and the hires that will need to be made, I’m sure this was discussed with Yurcich. Gundy originally hired him from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania. So, I don’t image he has a very deep coaching Rolodex. In other words, he may not insist on bringing any particular person.

***Also, regarding some of the rumors floating around about Yurcich being difficult to work with, I asked a coach who used to work with Yurcich on Mike Gundy’s staff and this coach told me that Yurcich was very easy to work with.

But, again, he noted that though he will do a good job recruiting his quarterbacks, he isn’t a guy like Tim Beck who will help recruit a bunch of positions. I was told you’ll need to pair him with some good recruiters. With the openings available and with Carrington on staff, this shouldn’t be difficult.

***I noted yesterday that I heard Yurcich didn’t quite fit in with the staff up in Columbus. But this wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. It sounds like it was a similar situation to Sooners defensive coordinator Alex Grinch’s time at Ohio State. These guys are young innovative guys who have ideas and want to implement their ideas. When you have seasoned coordinators around them, that becomes difficult.

I remember last year I was very skeptical of Grinch becomes of the regression we saw from Ohio State. But a source up there told me that Grinch was a great coach but wasn’t really being permitted to do much of what he wanted. I imagine with Yurcich having Kevin Wilson and coach Day around him, it’s the same situation. I’m sure he’s learned a lot from his time up there but he was already a dang good OC when he left Mike Gundy’s tutelage.

***We’ve mentioned this name before but I’d keep an eye on Houston’s Tyrone Carrier as a person who should at least get an interview for the wide receiver coaching job (if he hasn’t already).

***Don’t know what the plans are for the remainder of the offensive staff but again, I suspect it will depend on what Herman and Yurcich collectively believe is best.

Jahmyr Gibbs & Corey Wren | Visit Updates

– Super K

Last week, Texas extended offers to 2020 RB, Jahmyr Gibbs (Dalton, GA) and 2020 ATH/RB, Corey Wren (New Orleans).

***Wren has already taken four official visits. He picked up offers from Texas, USC and Oklahoma last week. Wren will take his final official visit in January and says he has not made a decision about which school will get the final OV.

But rest assured the battle for Wren is all about getting that final official. Whoever wins that official will likely compete with Arizona State for Wren’s services. The other schools will be out.

***Jahmyr Gibbs still has four official visits left. I was told he was planning on taking an official visit to Texas at the end of January. However, with LSU missing on Zach Evans, it appears they have jumped in the mix and the latest I’ve heard is that he will take an OV to LSU on that date, instead.

Gibbs has so far taken an official visit to Alabama. He has an official scheduled to Ohio State and I don’t suspect that will be cancelled. He also has OVs scheduled to Florida and Georgia Tech. He is currently committed to Georgia Tech. If I’m Texas, I’m probably going to be trying to make the case to Gibbs that it’s not worth burning an official visit to drive up the road to Georgia Tech.